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YOU IN LESS THAN 5 MINUTES. THE PAST YEAR HAS BEEN A DIFFICULT ONE FOR OUR KIDS. THEY'VE SPENT MORE TIME PLAYING INDOORS - DURING THIS PANDEMIC. NOW - RESTRICTIONS ARE LOOSENING. PARENTS - STARTING TO TAKE THEIR CHILDREN OUTSIDE MORE OFTEN. BUT - FOR SOME - ITS NOT AN EASY ADJUSTMENT. NBC FIVE'S LAUREN GRANADA JOINS US LIVE FROM HOME. LAUREN - EVEN A TRIP TO THE PLAYGROUND CAN BE A BIG DEAL. IT CAN BE. -FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE BABYSITTING ... ESPECIALLY DURING A PANDEMIC. FOR SOME YOUNGER CHILDREN IT CAN BE SCARY TO LEAVE THE HOUSE. BUT ONE PEDIATRICIAN I SPOKE TO SAYS IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE. AT ALMOST 2 YEARS OLD... <CHRIS VINTINNER, COLCHESTER :05 "WHEN HE WAS REAL LITTLE HE HAD BEEN TO A GROCERY STORE. HE PROBABLY HASN'T BEEN TO A GROCERY STORE FOR THE LAST YEAR AND HALF OR WHATEVER."> HARRISON VINTINNER HAS PRACTICALLY SPENT HALF OF HIS LIFE LIVING IN A PANDEMIC. <CHRIS VINTINNER, COLCHESTER :03 "HE'S GOT A PRETTY OUTGOING PERSONALITY, SO IT HASN'T REALLY AFFECTED HIM."> HIS DAD CHRIS VINTINNER TAKES HIM OUT TO PLAY AT PLACES LIKE MONKEY DO IN WILLISTON. <CHRIS VINTINNER, COLCHESTER :11 "I THINK WITH THE FACT THAT CHILDREN SEEM TO BE NOT AFFECTED AS MUCH - AND YOUNGER PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT WORRIED FOR OUR HEALTH AS MUCH. IT'S MORE ABOUT PROTECTING OUR OLDER FAMILY MEMBERS AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY."> BUT NOT EVERY FAMILY HAS ADJUSTED AS WELL AS THE VINTINNERS DURING THE PANDEMIC. <DR. MATTHEW SAIA, PRIMARY CARE PEDIATRICIAN :04 "FOR SOME FAMILIES IT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT AND MAKING SMALL CHANGES AND FOR SOME FAMILIES IT'S A LOT."> DOCTOR MATTHEW SAIA SAYS NOT ONE OF HIS PATIENTS áHASN'T BEEN AFFECTED BY THE GLOBAL CRISIS. <DR. MATTHEW SAIA, PRIMARY CARE PEDIATRICIAN :03 "IT'S SOMETHING I TALK ABOUT WITH PRETTY MUCH EVERY FAMILY I SEE."> SINCE MANY YOUNG CHILDREN HAVE BEEN IN QUARANTINE FOR A YEAR. SPENDING TIME áOUTSIDE OF THE HOUSE CAN BE SCARY. BUT DOCTOR SAIA SAYS THERE ARE WAYS TO MAKE IT MORE ENJOYABLE. <DR. MATTHEW SAIA, PRIMARY CARE PEDIATRICIAN :12 "HAVING A SNACK AVAILABLE - FOR KIDS IF THEY'RE HAVING A TOUGH TIME WHEN THEY'RE THERE OR GETTING OUT, JUST OFFERING SOME SMALL CHOICES LIKE 'DO YOU WANT TO BRING YOUR FAVORITE BLANKET OR YOUR FAVORITE TEDDY BEAR?'"> ...AND HE SAYS MOM AND DAD'S BEHAVIOR MATTERS TOO <DR. MATTHEW SAIA, PRIMARY CARE PEDIATRICIAN :09 "IF PARENTS ARE NERVOUS THEN CHILDREN CAN FEEL NERVOUS AND STRESSED TOO AND THAT CAN MAKE TEMPER TANTRUMS HAPPEN MORE OFTEN AND SEPARATION ANXIETY A LITTLE WORSE."> HIS BEST ADVICE FOR PARENTS? SET AN EXAMPLE AND STAY CALM WHEN YOU'RE OUT OF THE HOUSE... SO THAT YOU AND THE WHOLE FAMILY CAN HAVE áFUN WHILE STAYING SAFE... DR. SAIA ALSO SAYS EATING HEALTHY AND GETTING ENOUGH SLEEP AND EXERCISE ARE KEY FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY. WHEN IT COMES DEALING WITH THESE TYPES OF SITUATIONS. LAUREN- WE'VE ALL BEEN WEARING MASKS DURING DURING THIS PANDEMIC. THAT WAS ANOTHER BIG CHANGE FOR KIDS. SOME KIDS DON'T UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT WHEREAS OTHER HAVE TAKEN TO IT . WHAT HAS THE DOCTOR SAID ABOUT HOW THAT COULD BE IMPACTING THEIR SOCIAL SKILLS MOVING FORWARD? HE SAYS IT DEPENDS ON THE ENVIRONMENT THE CAREGIVER CREATES. AS LONG AS THE CHILD GETS THE CHANCE TO HAVE PROPER SOCIAL INTERACTIONS WITH FAMILY OR WITH A NANNY. IT SHOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM MOVING FORWARD. BUT IF YOU ARE WORRIED, YOU CAN CONTACT YOUR PEDIATRICIAN FOR MORE ADVICE AND COPING MECHANISMS