Daily Record

Pandemic trauma has left kids without skills to play

- BY STEPHEN STEWART

A SCOTTISH care chief has revealed children as young as five have been left so traumatise­d by the pandemic that they don’t know how to play with pals.

Childcare expert Natalie Connell fears the lost Covid generation will need years of special support to deal with their trauma.

She told the Record that poverty, adversity and soaring levels of domestic abuse during the coronaviru­s crisis have created a toxic mix. Natalie said: “You would think that play comes naturally to children, however this is sadly not the case.

“The young people who come into our care have not always been granted this start in life and many have been through traumatic life experience­s and adversity, which can seriously impact their brain developmen­t.”

 ??  ?? SUPPORT Youngsters at play
SUPPORT Youngsters at play

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