Delayed Not Defeated: Helping COVID Era Toddlers Catch Up Socially & Emotionally (Unabridged‪)‬

The Pandemic May Have Delayed Your Toddler, but They Will Not Be Defeated

This compassionate, science-based guide offers hope and practical strategies for parents of children whose critical developmental years (ages 2–4) were impacted by COVID-19 isolation.

Written by a child development expert, it explains how pandemic conditions disrupted normal social, emotional, and communication milestones and provides a comprehensive roadmap for helping children recover and thrive.

Rather than focusing on what was lost, Delayed, Not Defeated empowers parents with targeted approaches for supporting development across key domains:

building social skills through structured playdates and peer interactions
developing emotional regulation strategies for children with big feelings
creating language-rich environments to boost communication skills
using play as a powerful therapeutic tool
managing screen time thoughtfully
preparing children for successful school transitions


Each chapter combines the latest research with practical, easy-to-implement strategies that work in real family life. Special considerations address specific challenges, including sensory sensitivities, multilingual development, sibling dynamics, and when to seek professional support.

The book's central message is one of hope: What pandemic toddlers experienced was a developmental delay, not a developmental destiny.

With the loving guidance and evidence-based strategies provided in this book, children will do more than catch up—they'll develop unique strengths from navigating these extraordinary early experiences.