Children who "know only the face of the mask" Adults can do at 11:55 on June 9th.

"I always wear a mask and feel uncomfortable after my child has a physical feeling."


"I'm worried that my child's development may be affected by not being able to read facial expressions



. "

..


Of the more than 100 answers, the most common was the concern about child development as the Korona-ka reduced contact with people.


It's hard to go out, the chances of playing with friends are reduced, and everyone is wearing masks ...


With less opportunities for communication, what should adults do to promote the development of their children?


Looking for the hint, I visited researchers and sites in each country.



(NHK Special "Tsunagare! Chienowa" coverage group)

A world where "masked face" is the norm

It is Yumi who sent a voice to the questionnaire.

She gave birth to her eldest son two years ago.

Immediately after that, Korona-ka began.

Of the adults my eldest son usually meets, only my parents and grandparents don't wear masks.

When he stepped out of the house, everyone around him was wearing a mask.

You don't have to worry if such a life affects your child's development.

Yumi:


"This child only knows the face of the person wearing the mask. I was horrified when I thought about it since I was born. How does the child's" heart "become as it develops? I wonder if it will become "

The other day, after a long absence, he took off his mask and let him play, and his eldest son was surprised and pleased.


He reaffirms that it is important to interact with people in a visible way, and says he wants to know what adults should do when raising children in a “mask society”.

Is language function degraded?

Long-term impact unknown

Does the life of Korona-ka actually have any effect on the growth of children?

Research is now being conducted all over the world.


As I proceeded with the interview, I found a research that I was interested in in the United States.



This is a paper published last summer by Dr. Sean Dioni of Brown University.



Dr. Dioni has been recording language development for more than 1,700 children aged 0 to 3 in the United States for more than 10 years since 2009.


He investigates how much he understands (cognizes) words from reactions such as "whether he recognizes the voice of his parents" and "whether he understands simple instructions".



Then, in the 2021 survey, which is dominated by children born after the pandemic, the language function of infants was "60", which is well below the standard value of 100.

Dr. Dioni analyzes that the cause of this depression is "reduced opportunities for communication" due to multiple factors such as the mandatory masking and restricted going out due to the Korona-ka.



It is not yet known whether these declines in early childhood language function affect long-term development.

Dr. Sean Dioni of Brown University


"Similar to laying the foundation for a house, you can build a taller building with a solid foundation. Language function is a really basic skill, but when it is compromised, IQ And may have a long-term impact on academic achievement. "

Although the long-term effects are still unknown, I think many people are worried after seeing this study.

When I asked Dr. Dioni what it takes to encourage the growth of his child as the Korona-ka reduces communication opportunities, he gets a surprising answer.



The doctor, who has a 4-year-old child himself, told me that he is practicing a certain device.

Dr. Sean Dioni of Brown University


"The brain grows over the long term and the resilience of the child is amazing. To get it back to the level it should be, read another short book, another page, a little bit. Ingenuity is important. Confirming love and feeling cherished is the power to build a strong bond and a healthy brain. "

The important thing is "to make an adult look rich"

"As opportunities for communication decrease, it is important for the adults around us to consciously create rich facial expressions."


Professor Masako Meiwa of Kyoto University, who studies the development of the brain of children, points out that.



According to Professor Meiwa, her ability to understand words and emotions grows especially during the "sensitive period of brain development" by the time she becomes an elementary school student.

It seems that children understand the other person's heart by seeing the other person's richly moving facial expressions and imitating them.

Professor Masako Meiwa, Graduate School of Education, Kyoto University


"For example, the person in front of me is smiling. The baby smiles by imitating it. And when I smile, the baby feels like this." I understand through my body. The rich facial expressions are a very important learning opportunity. "

Furthermore, Professor Meiwa taught me that there are things that adults can do not only in real conversations, but also when watching TV and online videos.


In a scene where the characters are laughing or crying, it is effective to tell them, "That person is laughing, it looks fun" while interacting with the child.

Professor Masako Meiwa, Graduate School of Education, Kyoto University


"Simply showing it brings transient excitement and stimulation, but it is not an effective stimulation. By touching it, the child feels comfortable, and the brain and mind It will be an effective support for the development of

In the UK, a total of 800 billion yen will be supported

The United Kingdom is making a national effort to support the development of children with Korona-ka.


The Department of Educational Standards, which audits nursery schools and schools, has released a report twice in the last two years that warns of child development with the Korona-ka.

Based on this, the government is providing a total of 800 billion yen in support.



There are more than 10 items such as holding online classrooms, developing the skills of teachers and nursery teachers, and providing activities during long vacations.



One of these is "language instruction" for children before entering elementary school.

The program offers 20 weeks of small group and one-on-one tutoring.

Teachers can understand what words they are not good at and set examples of words repeatedly, enabling detailed guidance.



The person in charge believes that with the efforts of these adults, the impact on many children can be avoided.

Amanda Spielman, Chief Inspector, UK Education Standards Department


"I'm optimistic. Many children expect to catch up, but that requires the hard work of teachers and parents. It is backed by a strong public opinion that "we should do our best for our children."

"On the contrary, children may grow up."

The last person I spoke to was Masami Ohinata, President of Keisen University, who has listened to the concerns of child-rearing for nearly half a century.



Mr. Ohinata, who specializes in child development psychology, thinks that there may be something lost due to the Korona-ka, and that by consciously trying to make up for it, the power of the child will increase. She says she will be.



Mr. Ohinata recommends reading "parents' favorite books" as a way to supplement communication.

It is more important to choose a book that parents really enjoy than choosing a book because it looks good for their child's growth.

Children do not understand things by words alone, but read the seriousness and affection of their parents from a little voice.

It is said that it becomes communication above all.

President Masami Ohinata of Keisen Jogakuen University


"Children have great power. Rather than lamenting what has disappeared (due to Korona-ka), how can we adults and society give children an alternative? I think it's important. "

After finishing the interviews in various places, I introduced Yumi, who was worried about raising children in the "mask society", about various researches and initiatives while showing videos.

Yumi:


"I feel a little better. I think I can recover what I lost. I'm a little optimistic."

When we asked what the child was doing now, he took us to the bedroom with the camera.

Yumi:


"Are you in the picture? ... I'm sleeping (laughs). I want my boy to grow up to be a person who can enjoy interacting with people."

The environment surrounding child-rearing, which was forced to change due to the Korona-ka.


What is needed for a child's growth as communication opportunities diminish?

From the interviews in each country, we can see again the importance of having adults face each other and the great potential of children.

Gathering "wisdom" to eliminate the haze of child-rearing For more information, visit this site