COVID-19: The impact the pandemic has had on your child’s Speech and Language development.

Progressive Pediatric Therapy • February 28, 2022

Written By: Manuela McAndrew, C-SLPA

A little girl is blowing soap bubbles in the air.

The past two years in the pandemic have been short of easy. With lockdowns, school closures, and social distancing, you may be asking yourself how these unexpected events have impacted your child’s development. Progressive Pediatric Therapy is here to help you answer these questions and provide you with possible solutions on how to best help your child improve with their speech and language development. 

A number of recent studies have shown that through lack of social interactions, mask wearing, and passive screen time, our early language learners are suffering a negative impact on cognitive and language development. Although long term effects are yet to be determined, a study done in Rhode Island showed that children born in the pandemic have significantly reduced verbal, motor and overall cognitive performance compared to children born prior to the pandemic.  

There are several factors that have played a large role in the delay of our children’s language development. It is important that parents are educated on what those factors are; in order to help their children make up for lost time and recognize the missed language opportunities that have occurred during the pandemic. 

A man is holding a little girl wearing a face mask.
  • Mask wearing : While masks have played a pivotal role in reducing the infection of COVID-19, they have also created a variety of obstacles for our children. 
    • Masks have taken away the ability for children to pick up on facial expressions and non-social cues that are imperative for the growth of pragmatic and social language development. 
    • Additionally, studies by the American-Speech-Language-Hearing Association, have shown that wearing masks can make communication more difficult for developing children. Masks can muffle sounds, making it hard for children to understand high pitched voices and speech. Masks also take away the ability to read lips which helps us to better understand what is being said. 
    • ASHA also reported that masks can pose challenges for children who stutter. Masks can reduce cue’s for speakers to be aware of blocks  (long silent pauses, frequently experienced by those who stutter), which can cause misinterpretation of what is being communicated by the child. 
  • Social interactions:  Day care/school closures, as well as social distancing measures, have reduced the possibility for meaningful social interactions among children.
    • Social interactions such as talking with loved ones and peers, are crucial for language development and pragmatic development. 
    • Skills that may be impacted due to lack of social engagement include, lack of conversational skills, difficulty with turn taking and inability to understand the meaning of words or non literal language. 
A little girl is sitting on a couch looking at a tablet
  • Excessive screen time: Working from home, home schooling, and limited outings have not made parenting any easier for anyone. Parents are faced with impossible choices on how to balance their workload, provide meaningful activities to keep their children busy, and ensure that they are receiving effective education through virtual school.  This can lead to excessive use of tablets and television that can negatively impact your child’s language development. 
    • Reduced vocabulary, inability to functionally ask questions, and missed interactions with family members are just a few of the consequences of passive screen time on language development. 
    • One study found a strong correlation between media consumption and poor language development, showing that the more videos a child watched regularly, the less words the child said or knew. 
    • Studies have also shown that the children who watch more than two hours of television a day, were six times more likely to develop a language delay. 

Despite the obstacles in place, Progressive Pediatric Therapy is here to help through effective Speech and Language therapy. Our therapists will provide useful coaching and carry over strategies that will help your children thrive and master those speech and language milestones that may be lagging a bit behind. 

For more information on the ways our speech and language pathologists can help, please contact our office for an evaluation or Free screening.

Top Shoes for Kids 2025 - Recommended by Pediatric Physical Therapists

By Aimee Brueck • September 18, 2025
Choosing the right pair of shoes for your child isn’t just about style, it’s about supporting their growing feet with the stability, comfort, and structure they need. Whether your child has orthotic needs, sensory sensitivities, or simply needs reliable footwear for school and play, finding pediatric therapist-recommended shoes can make all the difference.

What is ARFID?

By Aimee Brueck • August 25, 2025
This is a lesser-known eating disorder compared to anorexia or bulimia. It is known by its English acronym ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder). ARFID is characterized by very limited eating, either due to avoidance of certain tastes, textures, colors, smells, or an intense fear of the consequences of eating (such as choking or vomiting). ARFID is not related to body image or a desire to lose weight. ARFID affects the child’s social life—it’s not simply a phase of being a “picky eater.”

¿Qué es el ARFID?

By Aimee Brueck • August 25, 2025
Esto es un trastorno menos conocido como la anorexia o la bulimia. Esto es conocido por sus siglas en inglés como ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder). El ARFID es caracterizado por una alimentación muy limitada, ya sea por la evitación de ciertos sabores, texturas, colores, olores o por un miedo intenso a las consecuencias de comer (como atragantarse o vomitar). ARFID no está relacionado con la imagen corporal ni el deseo de adelgazar. EL ARFID afecta la vida social del niño, no es simplemente una etapa de "comer selectivo"

Supporting Growth with Turtle Bracing: Custom Orthotic Care for Kids

By Aimee Brueck • August 7, 2025
Children grow quickly, and with that growth come unique physical needs. Whether it’s posture, mobility, or muscle support, some children benefit from an extra layer of help to move, play, and thrive confidently. At Progressive Pediatric Therapy, we offer Turtle Bracing : a lightweight, flexible orthotic solution designed to support growing bodies in motion
A child is sitting at a table drawing with a marker.

Crayons, Confidence & Kindergarten: Handwriting Without Tears Tips to Get Your Child Ready for School

July 31, 2025
July brings warm days, end-of-summer excitement, and for many families, the first signs of back-to-school prep. If your child is heading to kindergarten this fall, now is the perfect time to start building their confidence with handwriting. At Progressive Pediatric Therapy, we use the Handwriting Without Tears program to support early writers in a fun, low-pressure way that’s grounded in child development and occupational therapy expertise.

Handwriting Readiness: Helping Kids Start the School Year Strong

By Aimee Brueck • July 18, 2025
A new school year means fresh notebooks, sharpened pencils and a renewed focus on writing. But for many kids, handwriting isn’t just a subject, it’s a foundational skill that impacts how they learn, express ideas, and feel about school.
Two little girls are running on a basketball court.

Simple Backyard Games That Support Gross Motor Development

July 3, 2025
July brings long sunny days, school-free schedules, and endless opportunities for play, but for many families, it’s also a chance to focus on something essential: physical development through movement. Summer play isn’t just fun; it’s foundational. It helps children build strength, coordination, and confidence especially when it supports gross motor development .
A family is laying on a blanket in the grass reading a book.

Screen-Free Summer: Activities that Build Language, Strength, and Coordination

June 19, 2025
As the days get longer and the sun shines brighter, summer invites children to explore, play, and grow. But with screens so easily accessible, it can be tempting to turn to tablets or TVs for entertainment. At Progressive Pediatric Therapy, we believe summer is a golden opportunity to engage kids in meaningful, screen-free activities that support their development —in both body and mind.
A young boy is walking with a suitcase at an airport and giving a thumbs up.

How to Prepare Your Child with Sensory Challenges for Summer Travel

June 5, 2025
Summer is a season of sunshine, adventures, and unforgettable memories. But for families of children with sensory challenges, the thought of travel can also bring anxiety and overwhelm. At Progressive Pediatric Therapy, we believe every child deserves the chance to enjoy summer experiences, comfortably and confidently. With a little planning and the right support, travel can be not just manageable but truly enjoyable!
A woman is holding a little girl in a swimming pool.

Staying Safe and Making Waves: Water Safety & Aquatic Therapy for Kids

May 22, 2025
As temperatures rise and summer approaches, families across South Florida flock to the water for fun, relaxation, and play. But alongside the excitement comes an important responsibility, water safety . At Progressive Pediatric Therapy, we use this time of year not only to promote safe swimming habits but also to spotlight one of our most exciting specialty services: Aquatic Therapy .