Canada Research Chair In Early Childhood At MSVU Studying Impacts On Families

Halifax – The Early Childhood Collaborative Research Centre at Mount Saint Vincent University is launching a new survey (April 15) to study the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Maritime families with young children. The aim of the study is to help inform the supports needed for families. The study is being led by Dr. Jessie-Lee McIsaac, an Assistant Professor of Education and Child & Youth Study and Canada Research Chair in Early Childhood at MSVU.

The first cases of COVID-19 in the Maritimes were announced in mid-March, and since then provinces have declared states of emergency resulting in closures to many services (e.g., childcare, school, recreation facilities) and the enforcement of physical distancing principles.

“Many of us with young children are challenged by our new reality and managing the effects of social distancing on daily family life. While the exact impact of COVID-19 on Maritime families is still unknown, research from other pandemics suggests that disruption to young children’s routines, such as those being experienced across the Maritimes, can cause family related stress,” says Dr. McIsaac. “This research will respond to the urgent need to understand the impacts of COVID-19 on family life in the Maritime provinces to inform the supports that are necessary to assist families during this unprecedented time and in poten ...