The importance of activities in a post pandemic world

By Michael Oberschneider, Psy.D.

COVID-19 may be ending, or at the very least its control over us all as a pandemic may be coming to an end. But what does getting back to life as normal (or some version of it) look like for our children?  

Research has shown that the protracted changes, adjustments, and uncertainties due to COVID-19 have taken a toll on children; in significant ways, these past two years have negatively impacted our children’s social, emotional and academic development and functioning.  

As a child psychologist, I’ve seen firsthand the ways in which children have been most impacted by COVID-19, and the social impact is what concerns me most. Children can always catch up academically (i.e. their hard skills and content learning), but getting back to a solid social self isn’t going to be easy for a lot of children. 

Research in this area has already shown that, over the past two years, children have missed out on learning durable soft skills that make it necessary to succeed at both college and the workplace. And those delays or gaps are occurring for children of all ages with research showing that even babies born during COVID-19 have higher reported rates of social and motor delays.

One recent study revealed that universities and employers are reporting that today’s applicants are lacking several durable soft skills, the two most important ones being communication skills and leadership skills. 

Surprisingly, another study found that only 3 percent of high school students actually view leadership skills as something important to them. This finding is disturbing given that leadership is one of the most sought out skill for universities and employers and later success in life.       

So, how do you help your child actively cultivate the skills they need to do well in college and beyond after a global pandemic?  Extracurricular activities. By reintroducing your children to clubs, camps (at home or away), sports teams, enrichment programs, etc., you will be providing them with experiences – very important ones – that will serve to get them back on track.  

It’s important to note though that the transition back to extracurricular activities will not go smoothly for all children, and parents need to be sensitive to that. While many children can’t wait to get back out there, others may feel anxious about re-entry. Also, so many children have over relied on technology during the pandemic, which has in turn negatively impacted socialization. Thus, managing screen or technology time is an important step to take to get your child more engaged and social, but that task is easier said than done for a lot of parents and children.  

In my experience, the best way to increase socialization for a child that overuses technology is to communicate your social expectations of them openly and positively. If your son or daughter is outside of the house on a sports team or in a club, he or she is not at home on a screen. As a parent, you may be able to avoid restrictions (and fights) altogether if you can proactively convince your child of the importance of getting out of the house, of getting engaged with others again and of striving for balance.  

This has been a very long two years, but the light at the end of the tunnel is bright. Now that it’s safe to be social again, I encourage parents to increase their children’s involvement in extracurricular activities; not only is it good for them now, but it will pay back in dividends later.  

The mind gathers its grain in all fields, storing it against a time of need, then suddenly it bursts into awareness, which men call inspiration or second sight or a gift. – Louis L’Amour 

Michael Oberschneider, Psy.D. “Dr. Mike” is a clinical psychologist in private practice. He can be reached at 703-723-2999, and is located at 44095 Pipeline Plaza, Suite 240, Ashburn.