How to PREPARE for Emergencies Using a Social-Emotional Approach

As a childcare provider that supports infant and young children’s social and emotional development, you are already taking the first steps in disaster preparedness. When disaster strikes, all children are impacted. Even when they are too young to understand, they experience the anxiety and stress of the adults around them and the changes that occur. While adults cannot completely shield and protect children when bad things happen, caregivers can prepare in advance to ensure that children’s outcomes will be as good as possible. In addition to being prepared with developmentally appropriate emergency preparedness plans for safety, developing and maintaining safe, stable, and supportive relationships is crucial.   

“How you are is as important as what you do” in making a difference for infants, toddlers, and their families” (Pawl & St. John, 1998).

Infant mental health professionals often cite this quote to emphasize the importance of a professional’s way of “being” while relating to an infant or young child. “How you are” in your relationship with children provides them with a strong foundation and serves as a protective factor following disasters.