We’ve compiled these online resources to provide information about disaster preparedness for child care and preschool programs in the U.S. and how to talk to young children about disasters they learn about in the media. We’ve also provided information about helping children during and after a disaster.
- Volunteer
- Disaster planning for child care and preschool programs
- Talking to children about disasters
- How organizations help children in a disaster
- Helping children after a disaster
- Including children in post-disaster rebuilding
- Families coping with disaster
- Post-disaster policy recommendations
Volunteering services
Volunteer Your Child Care Expertise
If you would like to provide child care services as a volunteer in Red Cross and FEMA shelters and service centers in future disasters, Children's Disaster Services has centers already in operation in New Jersey and Long Island, but they're running short of volunteers. CDS provides a weekend's training and criminal background checks for their volunteers, who go to disaster sites in the US for up to two weeks to help children overcome their losses through play and caring relationships with the volunteers. Volunteers' expenses are reimbursed.
Disaster planning for child care and preschool programs
All child care professionals should be equipped with the skills and resources needed to protect children when disasters strike.
This compilation of web-based resources for programs is from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Childcare Emergency Preparedness Toolbox
Seven print tools programs can use to evaluate their emergency preparedness plan - from the federal government.
Seven print tools programs can use to evaluate their emergency preparedness plan - from the federal government.
This planning guide is for child care centers and family child care homes.
This resource includes information on several Federal agencies, national organizations, and publications that have information for child care providers on preparing for emergencies.
Talking to children about disasters
Elmo along with Dr. Rosemarie Truglio, of Sesame Street Education's and Research Department offer tips for children and families.
Subtitled “A Guide for Parents and Educators,” this printable PDF contains concise tips for talking to children after traumatic events as well as resource links when more active intervention may be required.
Suggestions for talking to children about earthquakes and natural disasters from a child psychiatrist are provided in a printable PDF by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
How organizations help children in a disaster
Disaster Relief
The American Red Cross helps people affected by disasters like Superstorm Sandy. Individuals can make a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief.
This comprehensive list from the American Academy of Pediatrics includes over 130 links to resources for families, child care facilities, and schools.
Save the Children's Domestic Emergencies Unit web page emphasizes both preparedness for and responses to emergencies/disasters in the U.S., including issues around child care. Links to PDFs on such topics as child-friendly spaces, child safety guidelines, and children in emergency planning are included.
A quick summary from Ehow.com of some organizations that directly help children after natural disasters, the article also links to a few resources.
Save the Children has opened the first child-friendly space in Sendai, Japan, less than five days after the city was hit by a devastating earthquake and tsunami. Located in a primary school currently being used as an evacuation center and supervised by Save the Children staff, it contains toys and games aimed at 5- to 12-year-olds affected by the disaster.
In 2009 the deadliest typhoon in Taiwan’s recorded history took the lives of more than 600 people. The National Association for the Education of Young Children’s Asian Interest Forum (AIF) worried about basic living environments and the emotional needs of children in these regions. This column shares some of the strategies and insights learned in working with parents and early childhood teachers about how to help young children from different cultures cope with natural disasters.
Helping children after a disaster
Children react to traumatic events in age-specific ways. This printable PDF from the University of California-San Francisco’s Childcare Health Program contains developmental information on children’s physiological and emotional reactions to disaster and how parents and teachers can help.
This web page, from Mental Health America (formerly known as the National Mental Health Association), offers tips for parents in helping preschool-age children, as well as grade school-age children and adolescents, with tragedy-related anxiety.
Resources from Teaching Strategies author Cate Heroman and mental health expert Jenna Bilmes about responding to children after a natural disaster.
Children’s responses to trauma, changes in a child’s behavior parents should watch for, and links to fact sheets on depression, sleep problems, grief, and other behavioral issues are included on this web page.
Authors Cathy Grace and Elizabeth Shores offer literature-based activities to help children who have been through a trauma. With activities and exercises that can be used in conjunction with 50 children’s books, the discussion starters and writing and art activities in After the Crisis can be used by teachers to promote children’s ability to cope and heal.
Including children in post-disaster rebuilding
This Save the Children report details how the Tsunami Rehabilitation Programme involved children and families in helping to rebuild after the Indonesia tsunami, creating a sense of control and efficacy for children.
Families coping with disaster
Mental Health America’s “Coping with Disaster” fact sheet series offers information on coping with the stress of natural disasters as well as fact sheets specifically written for advocates and community leaders.
This web page discusses research findings that link watching media coverage of traumatic events with stress. The article gives viewing recommendations and other advice for parents of young children.
Post-disaster policy recommendations
This Social Policy Report, published by the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD), highlights new research on children and adolescents post-disaster. The report includes policy recommendations.
The U.S. National Commission on Children and Disasters’ downloadable report calls for the development of a national strategy for children in disasters to ensure children are protected before, during, and after an emergency. The website also has links to resources from different agencies and organizations.
NAEYC is not responsible for the content of the above listed websites. Links may not be active or up-to-date.
Founded in 1926, the National Association for the Education of Young Children is the largest and most influential advocate for high-quality early care and education in the United States.
