For many families, the Covid pandemic meant months of home learning, empty playgrounds and classrooms that suddenly fell silent.
But new research suggests the impact may have gone beyond missed school days.
A study led by the University of East Anglia warns that pandemic lockdowns may have slowed parts of children’s brain development, particularly skills linked to focus, behaviour regulation and adapting to new situations.
These abilities are known as executive functions, which help children manage emotions, pay attention and navigate everyday challenges.
The research found the biggest impact among children who were in reception – aged four to five – when the first lockdowns began in March 2020.
This stage is usually when children learn classroom routines, develop friendships and practise social interaction. Instead, millions stayed home and learned online or with help from their parents.
Those children are now around 10 or 11 years old and approaching the end of primary school.
According to the study, published in the journal Child Development, this group showed slower growth in self-regulation and cognitive flexibility compared with children who were still in preschool when the pandemic began.
The study tracked 139 children aged between two-and-a-half and six-and-a-half years old over several years, allowing researchers to compare development before, during and after lockdowns.
Lead researcher Professor John Spencer from the University of East Anglia said the reception year is a crucial period for learning social and behavioural skills.
“Reception is a critical year for peer socialisation. It’s when children learn classroom norms and build early friendships that shape their confidence,” he said.
However, with schools closed and social interaction limited, some children may not have developed these skills as quickly.
Researchers say the findings suggest this “lockdown generation” may still be feeling the effects years later.
The study highlights the need for additional support from schools and teachers to help children strengthen social and cognitive skills disrupted during the pandemic.
Separate reports have also pointed to ongoing classroom challenges.
A 2023 report by Speech and Language UK found the average child missed 84 school days due to Covid disruptions, while many teachers say pupils’ attention levels and social behaviour have worsened since the pandemic.
Experts say more research is needed to understand the long-term impact, but the priority now is helping children rebuild confidence, focus and social connections in the years ahead.