Covid lockdowns may have played a part in the increase in learning and behavioural issues being picked up at early childhood education.  

The Educational Institute says the increase has meant waiting lists for specialist support are far too long.  

Clinical psychologist Dougal Sutherland told Tim Dower that the main thing kids that age do is play and interact with other kids, which provides social and cognitive development and learning.  

He says that while teenagers could jump online to socialise with their friends, that play and interaction can't be replaced, so young kids missed out during isolation. 

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• Early childhood centres' stretched thin