Nationwide insights on early childhood neurodevelopment during a global health crisis: evidence from COVID-19 in South Korea

The COVID-19 pandemic led to significant developmental declines among young children, particularly in language and social domains and among toddlers. Boys were more adversely affected than girls, especially in language and socioemotional skills, highlighting sex-related vulnerabilities. Prioritising early screening and interventions targeting these key domains, alongside sex-sensitive strategies and caregiver support, will be essential to mitigate developmental disruptions during future pandemics.