Regional study on remote learning and mental health in Guatemala
As the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered schools, distance learning for preschool students proved to be a unique challenge. Researchers are currently conducting a regional experiment on remote learning. This project will allow Guatemala to be included in the regional survey on preschool education during the COVID-19 pandemic, and in the regional behavioral economics pilot program currently underway.
Problematic
During the pandemic, educational systems rushed to build distance learning models. But creating a model for the youngest students proved to be exceptionally difficult because at this stage of life, cognitive development takes place through the five senses: touch, sight, hearing, taste, and smell. Children lose interest in a lesson after 15 to 20 minutes, which drastically reduced the hours of assisted learning they received each day while schools were closed. They also lose interest if the group of children is too large, providing fewer opportunities for adult-child interaction. In addition to learning challenges, school closures also deprive children of the critical services schools provide, including socio-emotional support, nutrition programs, counseling services, and playgrounds. Children who stay home as part of social distancing strategies also miss out on key social interactions that are so essential to their development and well-being.
Solution
To help parents make decisions about activities to support children’s development and learning, the project includes the following elements: (I) messages designed to increase the quality and frequency of parent-child interactions; (ii) messages focused on managing physical and mental health; and (iii) a program of instant messages with information on coronavirus prevention strategies and approaches to communicating with children. The project is expected to mitigate impacts like the mental health effects of social distancing, including anxiety and depression, as well as the learning gap between resource-rich and resource-poor communities.
Evaluation and Impact
In line with the data collection method in other participating countries, the project will use two survey instruments (by phone and online) as part of the regional study to evaluate children's status during the pandemic. To measure children’s well-being, the project will use an adapted version of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), a clinical and research instrument that is widely used as a way for caregivers to identify children’s behavioral and emotional problems. The project uses the Family Care Indicators (FCI) to assess the quality of care practices and home environments. This instrument has been internationally validated to predict early childhood development.