Re: How are the kids doing almost 2 years later

My kids are homeschooled so it was different for us. Yes, some of our activities and fun classes like art, gym, etc got cancelled but nothing else really changed for them. We still saw our friends, we still had play dates, and we were able to come up with other activities and classes like I mentioned above. However I’ve seen a substantial change with other children in my family that go to school, and also some of my friends’ children. Even now, they still struggle academically and adapting to their “new normal” like some people love to call it. I feel for them! I must say, even if we had the chance to enroll in school again here in NY, I would not do it. It is simply not worth it for my children. In other states where these draconian mandates are not in placed, yes. But not here.

Re: How are the kids doing almost 2 years later

I think it has a lot to do with your socio economic situation combined with what part of the country you live in. No doubt this has affected kids in the south less than kids in the northeast.

For us, we have traveled extensively and I think my kids have actually benefited from the situation. They have seen a lot more of the world and because of travel restrictions we’ve been going places for extended periods of time. We were also only cautious at the start of the pandemic so that helped too.

Re: How are the kids doing almost 2 years later

Message edited 1/16/2022 4:11:01 PM.

How are the kids doing almost 2 years later

My daughter is in 9th and fine. Excels in school though and is a self starter, and always has been. We were never cooped up beyond those first few months. We have traveled and resumed life pretty normally though with the exception of attending certain events and gatherings. My son is 23, autistic and is fine as well.

Re: How are the kids doing almost 2 years later

How are the kids doing almost 2 years later

For my oldest DD going back to school last year was really hard. After much argument we decided to let her do virtual and I regret it 100%. She went back in person a few days and hated it because the COVID protocols were so strict...lunch time they were isolated, 6 feet apart, she couldn't socialize with her friends. She cried every day and begged to stay virtual. I feel like it really messed with her emotions...little to no school socialization made her depressed. She's currently in HS and doing better now but we did have to get her a therapist because her overall attitude has declined in general. Her therapist said she's seen a lot of kids depressed after COVID more than usual. It's really sad and infuriating that our kids took the brunt of this.

My youngest DD started her school career with social distancing and masks. She's fine because this is her normal but it breaks my heart because I know how different it should be. There were a few times she forgot to put her mask on and realized at the bus stop and freaked out...it made me so sad and angry that this is her world. I also hate that I know what it should be like, parents able to meet the teachers in person, walk them to their K classrooms, participate in school stuff in person no masks, smiles and kids reading social cues. Ugh I hate it. We really thought about hightailing it out of NY but at this stage with our incomes and family around it's so hard.

I have friends that were born and raised in NYC and loved it preCOVID but now feel like they are being forced out due to the extreme mandates for kids. It's really horrible.

How are the kids doing almost 2 years later

I think for the younger set its been very hard on them socially and emotionally. I have encountered alot of socially awkward kids that don't know how to play with others anymore because of all the social distancing. I know those parents are no help either as playing with strangers in a public place like a park is taboo now for many. Emotionally it takes a toll on many. I see single kids without siblings suffering more because they really can't get that good old fashion social experience. Even with extra curricular activities, they are still distanced and put through so much. Its a sad world for NY kids.

Message edited 1/16/2022 8:58:41 PM.

Re: How are the kids doing almost 2 years later

Re: How are the kids doing almost 2 years later

How are the kids doing almost 2 years later

Surprisingly, my daughter is doing really well. We went remote when she was a new student at a new school in 4th grade. She hadn't made many friends at her new school yet- and she was a mess. We got her counseling (virtual) and once things opened up, we made sure she was seeing old friends and anyone she asked to see. She was completely remote all of 5th grade...we continued counseling, and more play dates, activities outside of school. Her teacher/school was amazing with virtual learning- they really made things fun for the kids and she excelled. I got really involved with the school too- was head of the 5th grade parent committee, communicated almost daily with teachers and staff. We had a great committee that really pushed for the remote kids to experience things.
She started middle school in person this year...and she's a totally different kid- she has friends, does activities, is very invovlved in school and made principal's honor role (something I didn't even know if it would be possible as she has dyslexia and always struggled). She got such great services when she was remote- one on one sessions 4 times a week. Being remote taught her to be motivated and take control of her schedule/learning experience. I also think it gave her perspective- she did miss out on a year & 1/2 of in person school, so she appreciates it now and embraces it. I KNOW that isn't the case for everyone and my heart breaks for the kids still struggling.

Re: How are the kids doing almost 2 years later

My friend is a pediatrician but not in the NY area. The kids are not fine. The amount of medicine she has prescribed for mental health issues is staggering. Depression, suicide attempts, anxiety, she has been practicing 20 years and it is heart breaking for her to see what is happening. This is her main concern, not the effects of kids catching covid.

Re: How are the kids doing almost 2 years later

How are the kids doing almost 2 years later

I think the kids are more affected by their parents reaction to the pandemic, mask mandates and virtual learning.

The more parents rant and rave about the situation, the more kids get stressed out.

Message edited 1/17/2022 9:46:39 AM.

Re: How are the kids doing almost 2 years later

Message edited 1/17/2022 9:50:35 AM.

Re: How are the kids doing almost 2 years later

Re: How are the kids doing almost 2 years later

Re: How are the kids doing almost 2 years later

Re: How are the kids doing almost 2 years later

Re: How are the kids doing almost 2 years later

Re: How are the kids doing almost 2 years later

Message edited 1/17/2022 1:53:04 PM.

Re: How are the kids doing almost 2 years later

My kids are fine. There wasn’t really any major change to their lives outside of learning from computers and seasons delay in their sports and dance activities. They didn’t really have an issue with computer learning and don’t care about having to wear masks. We traveled like normal(road trips to outdoors activities) and spent loads of time outside. DH and I weren’t really phased by the mandates and social distancing so I tend to think that they picked up on those vibes. They are vaccinated so no more mandatory quarantine. I also saw hundreds of people die during the pandemic(and continue to at a lower rate) and never stopped working so our perspective was all relative.

I do feel awful for high school students who I suspect were affected the most. These are the times for social drama, prom, and graduation parties, they really were shorted for those memories(along with the parents).

Re: How are the kids doing almost 2 years later

Re: How are the kids doing almost 2 years later

Posted by Hofstra26

Posted by ali120206

Posted by Hofstra26

Posted by MissJones

Posted by Hofstra26

My kids are fine thankfully. Obviously 2020 was difficult but aside from masks, everything is so normal for them now. They are in school time full time, they participate in sports and other clubs, they are back to school trips and other school activities but most importantly, they've completely caught up academically from any setbacks they had early on in the pandemic.

I think that in general, kids are resilient and roll with things way better than adults. My kids barely utter a word about COVID, they've just adjusted to the "new normal".

This is how I feel for my OWN kids. They were in school last year and DIDN'T close! They still did sports, still played with friends, etc. The biggest adjustment was masks and honestly, they don't care about them.

My kids at school...that's not always the case. A lot of them were not in school last year so you can see that being back is still an adjustment. They were not in PreK or Kindergarten which are HUGE years for learning social skills. That's what I am seeing. Kids who can't sit still, wait their turn, share, speak nicely to each other, things like that.

I definitely think how an individual district handled the pandemic directly impacts how well (or not well) the kids are doing. For those poor kids who missed out on most of last year being in school I can understand why now they would still be having a really hard time.

It's been the worst for the littlest ones unfortunately. My son was only in first grade when this all started, such an important academic year and he was home for most of it. I just keep hoping things continue on "as is" at this point, them being back in school full time has made all the difference.

I actually feel worse for the older kids - although entering school during the pandemic isn’t ideal - the high school and college kids missed so much. Our friends daughter who is a multi sport athlete was failing gym last year, along with a lot of other things. Many people gave up on the full college experience and just decided to go local since there wasn’t much interaction anyway. There were no dances, proms, etc.

Yes, it was definitely bad for them too. I can't imagine missing prom and graduation and all of those college experiences too. At least older kids have an understanding of what's going on, some of these little ones can't even remember normal life from before.

I think it's safe to say it's been a miserable, weird two years for all.

Re: How are the kids doing almost 2 years later

Re: How are the kids doing almost 2 years later

Posted by NervousNell

Posted by Hofstra26

Posted by ali120206

Posted by Hofstra26

Posted by MissJones

Posted by Hofstra26

My kids are fine thankfully. Obviously 2020 was difficult but aside from masks, everything is so normal for them now. They are in school time full time, they participate in sports and other clubs, they are back to school trips and other school activities but most importantly, they've completely caught up academically from any setbacks they had early on in the pandemic.

I think that in general, kids are resilient and roll with things way better than adults. My kids barely utter a word about COVID, they've just adjusted to the "new normal".

This is how I feel for my OWN kids. They were in school last year and DIDN'T close! They still did sports, still played with friends, etc. The biggest adjustment was masks and honestly, they don't care about them.

My kids at school...that's not always the case. A lot of them were not in school last year so you can see that being back is still an adjustment. They were not in PreK or Kindergarten which are HUGE years for learning social skills. That's what I am seeing. Kids who can't sit still, wait their turn, share, speak nicely to each other, things like that.

I definitely think how an individual district handled the pandemic directly impacts how well (or not well) the kids are doing. For those poor kids who missed out on most of last year being in school I can understand why now they would still be having a really hard time.

It's been the worst for the littlest ones unfortunately. My son was only in first grade when this all started, such an important academic year and he was home for most of it. I just keep hoping things continue on "as is" at this point, them being back in school full time has made all the difference.

I actually feel worse for the older kids - although entering school during the pandemic isn’t ideal - the high school and college kids missed so much. Our friends daughter who is a multi sport athlete was failing gym last year, along with a lot of other things. Many people gave up on the full college experience and just decided to go local since there wasn’t much interaction anyway. There were no dances, proms, etc.

Yes, it was definitely bad for them too. I can't imagine missing prom and graduation and all of those college experiences too. At least older kids have an understanding of what's going on, some of these little ones can't even remember normal life from before.

I think it's safe to say it's been a miserable, weird two years for all.

Prom and graduation are once in a lifetime memories that everyone had back to our parents and grandparents. Can you imagine being robbed of that?
It's something you will never get back.
How awful that must be for these kids who look forward to it for years?
It's actually shameful.
I feel terrible for theses kids.
It's NOT ok