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Developmental Losses in Young Children from Pre-primary Program Closures during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Abufhele, Alejandra

    (Universidad Adolfo Ibañez)

  • Bravo, David

    (Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile)

  • López Bóo, Florencia

    (Inter-American Development Bank)

  • Soto-Ramirez, Pamela

    (Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile)

Abstract

The learning and developmental losses from pre-primary program closures due to COVID-19 may be unprecedented. These disruptions early in life can be long-lasting. Although there is evidence about the effects of school closures on older children, there is currently no evidence on such losses for children in their early years. This paper is among the first to quantify the actual impact of pandemic-related closures on child development, in this case for a sample of young children in Chile, where school and childcare closures lasted for about a year. We use a unique dataset collected face-to-face in December 2020, which includes child development indicators for general development, language development, social-emotional development, and executive function. We find adverse impacts on children in 2020 compared to children interviewed in 2017 in most development areas. In particular, nine months after the start of the pandemic, we find a loss in language development of 0.25 SDs.

Suggested Citation

  • Abufhele, Alejandra & Bravo, David & López Bóo, Florencia & Soto-Ramirez, Pamela, 2022. "Developmental Losses in Young Children from Pre-primary Program Closures during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IZA Discussion Papers 15179, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp15179
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Attanasio, Orazio P. & Lopez Boo, Florencia & Perez-Lopez, Diana & Reynolds, Sarah Anne, 2023. "Inequality in the Early Years in LAC: A Comparative Study of Size, Persistence, and Policies," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 13316, Inter-American Development Bank.
    2. Clarke, Damian & Larroulet, Pilar & Pailañir, Daniel & Quintana, Daniela, 2023. "Schools as Safety Nets: Break-Downs and Recovery in Reporting of Violence against Children," IZA Discussion Papers 15859, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Chile; child development; COVID-19; childcare closures;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I25 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Economic Development
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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