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For babies born during the pandemic, there was concern that the unusual circumstances of the past three years — such as more limited access to health care and drastically reduced social interaction — would affect these infants’ developmental milestones. New research confirms that there was an impact on these milestones, but that it’s not as severe as was previously feared.
Today in The Conversation Canada, Gerald Giesbrecht and Catherine Lebel of University of Calgary and Lianne Tomfohr-Madsen of University of British Columbia discuss their research results and offer some tips for people concerned about their infant’s development. They found that babies born during the pandemic were about twice as likely to have lower scores for communication and personal-social development. However, they note that overall, the results are mostly reassuring for parents.
“This represents an increase of about one to two additional children in 100 who are at risk, but highlights some potentially concerning effects of the pandemic on early child development,” they write. “Across Canada, this could result in service demands for 20,000-40,000 additional preschool children.”
Also today:
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Scientists and physicians raised concerns early in the pandemic that increased parental stress, COVID infections, reduced interactions with other babies and adults, and changes to health care may affect child development.
(Shutterstock)
Gerald Giesbrecht, University of Calgary; Catherine Lebel, University of Calgary; Lianne Tomfohr-Madsen, University of British Columbia
Research findings are mostly reassuring for parents — despite the disruptions to nearly every aspect of life during the COVID-19 pandemic, most children continue to show healthy development.
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Canada’s first-ever grocery code of conduct is supposed to enhance transparency, predictability and fair dealing within supply chains.
(Shutterstock)
Giovani J.C. da Silveira, University of Calgary
We need a comprehensive code of conduct that ensures the long-term sustainability of the industry, while also protecting consumers in the event of future supply imbalances.
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Consent is too low a standard for promoting ethical sex — even if it may be the best available legal standard.
(Shutterstock)
Nicole K. Jeffrey, University of Windsor
In the wake of the #MeToo movement, there has been a lot of focus on consent. However, that focus takes the spotlight away from other strategies that can better inform ethical sex.
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An American guided-missile cruiser off the coast of Japan near Mt. Fuji.
(David Flewellyn/U.S. Navy via AP)
Shaun Narine, St. Thomas University (Canada)
NATO’s growing presence in the Pacific evokes a painful history that the western world has never confronted or fully acknowledged.
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Des élèves d'une classe d'immersion en français, en janvier 2023, à Montréal. L'école québécoise a un problème d'égalité des chances, et son système à trois vitesse y est pour quelque chose.
La Presse canadienne/Ryan Remiorz
Maude Roy-Vallières, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM); Claude Lessard, Université de Montréal; Pierre Doray, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)
Malgré certaines avancées, l’égalité des chances dans le système éducatif québécois est encore bien loin d’être atteinte. Un des problèmes : le système à trois vitesses.
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Business + Economy
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Sally Young, The University of Melbourne
Young Rupert took up his inheritance in Adelaide in 1953 with minimal journalistic experience. He quickly revealed himself to be a ruthless rule-breaker and hands on, expansionary proprietor.
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Politics
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Ahmet T. Kuru, San Diego State University
Long-term Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was reelected with 52% of the vote. Will he push the country further down an autocratic, anti-West path?
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Science + Tech
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John Malouff, University of New England
It’s a surprisingly difficult question to answer – which makes sense when you consider what this long-term research would involve.
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