N.C.F.C. Says Children’s Social Skills Affected by School Closures

Franisha Augustine

The conversation surrounding the reopening of schools continues across the country. The National Commission for Families and Children says one of their main concerns is the effect of protracted school closures on children’s social skills. N.C.F.C. has found that zoom classes and paper-based work, over an extended period of time, takes away from the kind of social interaction children need for their development. Franisha Augustine, the Executive Director at N.C.F.C. was a guest on Open Your Eyes.

Franisha Augustine, Executive Director, N.C.F.C.

“When we look at some of the impacts COVID has had on our children, we zone it down into four categories, basically. We know it has affected their social interaction skills. Educationally, it has affected them when it comes to their health and even child safety. Now, I am a teacher by profession. I recently left the classroom, so I have personal experience with the children. When we look at the social interaction, I find that it is necessary for students to be able to socialize, but using the zoom and paper based platforms, students are not able to socialize like they should. Some may argue that being able to socialize is not necessary. They would say education trumps the socialization skills. However, we need to keep in mind that when students socialize it helps them to manage their personal feelings. It helps them to understand their needs and the needs of others.”

Augustine says socializing also helps a child to learn how to interact with respectable behaviors.