Whether you’re in an evacuation zone or in an area where you can see, smell or sense the smoke of a wildfire, adults and kids alike will feel the stress. Some may be significantly impacted. Here are some tips for early childhood educators working with babies and toddlers.
Follow safety advice, air quality guidance, and evacuation orders issued by local officials.
Ensure your program has sufficient emergency supplies, such as water, shelf-stable food and formula, paper products, diapers, and batteries, that may be needed in case of a power outage. If you can’t find bottled water, fill as many containers as you can.
Remind parents of your program’s evacuation plan and confirm emergency contact information for each family in the case the program has to evacuate. If you are told to evacuate, then gather what you need and do so. Notify parents of your location as soon as possible.
Avoid outdoor play if air quality is low. For children who have conditions like asthma, ask parents for their guidance about outdoor play at this time. If possible, adapt existing spaces to create indoor play options that allow children to be active.
Pay attention to your facial expression and body language.
Babies and young children watch the nonverbal cues of adults to decide whether they are safe. When you can, take a moment to breathe, relax your face, and loosen your shoulders. These small physical shifts go a long way in “telling” young children they are safe in your care.
Notice your tone.
Right now, it’s perfectly normal to have anxiety in your voice, but even babies can sense fear in their caregivers (starting as young as 3 months!). If everyone is physically safe, try to focus on that. By being aware of your tone of your voice, you can help little ones feel calm.
Keep routines consistent.
Routines help young children feel secure, even in times of change and stress. While the surrounding events are certainly stressful — even overwhelming! — try to keep your classroom’s daily schedule as normal and consistent as possible. Knowing what to expect can help children feel physically and emotionally safe, and it might help you feel more grounded as well.
If you need to evacuate, let children know what’s coming next.
Even in situations where you need to move quickly, tell children what is about to happen. “We are getting ready to go to a place where we’ll be safe. There will be many other grown-ups and children there and we’ll all stay safe together. Your mommy and daddy will meet us there this afternoon.” Understanding what might come next can help children feel more safe and secure.
Shield children from frightening conversations or images.
You have family and friends who are probably being affected by the wildfires. It’s natural to worry and want to check on their welfare or talk about the what-ifs. But it’s critical to keep the details of the fires away from children in your care as much as possible. If you feel overwhelmed or overcome by stress, ask a colleague or director to give you a short break so that you can re-center yourself before returning to work with young children.
Play, sing, and tell stories.
While the last thing you feel like doing may be playing together, try to find some time to connect with children in a playful way. This type of everyday fun helps them feel safe and close to you.
Children whose families were impacted by the fires may show changes in their behavior and skills.
It’s perfectly normal for a child to “lose” some skills after periods of intense family stress. For example, they may have been consistently potty training but go back to having accidents. Or they may have been napping on schedule but now are difficult to soothe or refuse to go down at all. Children may show less self-confidence and independence. They may want to stay close to you and be held more than usual. This “clinginess” is a way for them to feel safe and close to you, which is incredibly important to them now. If this behavior persists or you have difficulty accommodating their needs in your classroom, explore the possibility of engaging a mental health consultant or professional from your local early intervention program to help you think through strategies to try.
You may find that some children cry or fuss more, seem to be very withdrawn, or “fall apart” easily, even after the event.
This means that children are still feeling unsure and unsettled. They will need extra cuddling, play, and attention during this time—which can be tough since you will likely be facing many demands in the aftermath, too!
Partner with parents on simple strategies to try, like making sure parents take time to say good-bye at drop-off and perhaps even create a good-bye routine — like a special kiss or song — to help with the parting. If the child’s behaviors persist, talk with parents about your concerns. Parents may wish to consult with their child’s health care provider to explore services available in the community that might help. It is common for both children and adults to need some additional support following a scary and sometimes traumatic event.
You matter!
An event like this is scary and stressful. Early childhood professionals need and deserve support. Explore the resources that your program may have available to staff, like mental health supports. Try mindfulness strategies that assist with guided breathing and relaxation. Most importantly, reach out to colleagues, friends and family. When you get the support you need, you’ll have more capacity to be there for the children in your care.
Additional Resources
Help Kids Cope
A mobile app to assist families cope with disasters. Download the free app today for Apple and Android devices. The app has helpful guidance how to prepare for disaster, how to support your family during disasters, and if your family needs additional support afterwards.
Learn More
Coping After a Natural Disaster
Even though they may not understand what they see or hear, babies and toddlers are affected by natural disasters. Learn how you can support young children in coping with uncertainty.
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Wildfires and Your Safety
Learn how to protect yourself and your family from a wildfire, evacuate safely during a wildfire, and how to stay healthy when you return home.
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Wildfire Resources and Downloads from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Information to assist caregivers of young children dealing with displacement, loss of home and personal property, natural disasters, economic hardship and the injury and death of loved ones.
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Free disaster resource developed jointly with the National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Trinka and Sam, two small mice, become scared and worried after they experience a severe fire and witness damage to their community. The story describes their reactions and shows how their parents help them to express their feelings and feel safer. Trinka and Sam was developed to help young children and their families begin to talk about feelings and worries they may have after they have experienced a large-scale fire, like a wildfire
Free PDF Book
Helping Children and Families Cope After a Disaster
Reactions to traumas are difficult to predict. They may occur immediately after the event or days and even weeks later. This booklet by Dr. Joy D. Osofsky, PhD and Howard J. Osofsky, PhD supports parents and children in understanding reactions to trauma and healing from traumatic events.
Free PDF
Emergency Resources
Explore free, bilingual resources that families can use to prepare for emergencies, recover from the unexpected and soothe children during times of emergencies.
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