Back to School: Area psychologist warns about online learning and loneliness

TROTWOOD — Several Miami Valley school districts are starting the school year fully online. That means students such as Ariyaunna Montgomery of Trotwood will not get to interact with their classmates in person.

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“I miss all my friends,” Montgomery told this News Center 7 reporter.

Montgomery’s district, Trotwood-Madison City Schools, is doing remote learning for the first nine weeks of school.

A pediatric psychologist from Dayton Children’s is concerned with the impact this social isolation will have on children.

“School is a time when kids are learning their social skills are able to practice them and to get feedback from other peers about what’s appropriate and what’s not,” Dr. Joy Miceli said. “Not being in those environments, they’re not going to learn some of those skills that they need to learn.”

Ariyaunna’s mother, Demeshia Montgomery, said her daughter is not showing signs of loneliness but she is noticing the impact virtual learning is having on her child.

“She just wants to go out and play. Like any other 9-year-old, she wants to be with other kids,” Montgomery said.

Miceli said loneliness can be difficult for other children to handle.

“Kids don’t have the coping skills that adults do, and even as adults, we’ve a hard time coping with doing everything virtually and remotely. But for kids to not be able to have those interactions with other children, makes it really hard for them emotionally and can lead to some more significant difficulties,” Miceli said.

The issue will present differently in children of different age groups.

Miceli said for students 12 and up could lack motivation and focus. However, she said while younger kids may say they are bored, they may actually feel disconnected.

She suggests parents find ways for their children to interact with other children either virtually, in person or in small groups.

Cox Media Group