Many kids born during the pandemic behave differently in the classroom. Here鈥檚 how Colorado educators are responding

In The NoCo

Many kids born during the pandemic behave differently in the classroom. Here鈥檚 how Colorado educators are responding

By In The NoCo,

Erin O'Toole, Brad Turner

Published September 18, 2024 at 5:35 AM MDT

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Courtesy of Ann Schimke / Chalkbeat Colorado

"There were families who were extremely stressed by a whole host of things that happened during the pandemic: getting sick, losing jobs, having financial problems; and kids often absorb the stress of their family. So even though they were babies and toddlers, and they probably don't even remember that time of their life, they were being affected by it," says Chalkbeat Colorado reporter Ann Schimke.

Kids who were babies or toddlers at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic... are now preschoolers and kindergarteners in Colorado classrooms. And experts see signs that the pandemic changed their behavior compared to older children.

A recent round of data from the seems to confirm that more kids now show signs of developmental delays. Behavior patterns like struggling to communicate or having emotional outbursts can often be a sign of those delays. And they can create extra challenges for families and educators.

covers early childhood education for Chalkbeat Colorado. She鈥檚 been following this story for Chalkbeat, and to preschool and kindergarten classrooms.

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In The NoCo

KUNC's In The NoCo is a daily slice of stories, news, people and issues. It's a window to the communities along the Colorado Rocky Mountains. The show brings context and insight to the stories of the day, often elevating unheard voices in the process. And because life in Northern Colorado is a balance of work and play, we celebrate the lighter side of things here, too.

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Erin O'Toole

As the host of KUNC鈥檚 new program and podcast In the NoCo, I work closely with our producers and reporters to bring context and diverse perspectives to the important issues of the day. Northern Colorado is such a diverse and growing region, brimming with history, culture, music, education, civic engagement, and amazing outdoor recreation. I love finding the stories and voices that reflect what makes NoCo such an extraordinary place to live.

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Brad Turner

Brad Turner is an executive producer in KUNC's newsroom. He manages the podcast team that makes In The NoCo, which also airs weekdays in Morning Edition and All Things Considered. His work as a podcaster and journalist has appeared on NPR's Weekend Edition, NPR Music, the PBS 暗黑爆料hour, Colorado Public Radio, MTV Online, the Denver Post, Boulder's Daily Camera, and the Longmont Times-Call.

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