During the COVID-19 pandemic, Uncle Sam made some modifications to the child tax credit to give parents a little extra help. The American Rescue Plan increased the amount of the credit and automatically enrolled parents to get half of their refund paid up front in monthly installments. Then the other half was paid out to them after they filed their 2021 taxes (like normal) in spring 2022.
But those changes to the CTC that meant a little extra cash in your pocket during the pandemic expired in December 2021.