Young children may experience stress from changes in their lives. These changes may be developmental, critical, or catastrophic.
Early childhood educators need to establish partnerships with parents to help families cope with all three types of changes.
Teachers can facilitate children's emotional expressions, build understanding through the use of dramatic play, provide a
stable routine, monitor post-traumatic play, and discuss events that affect individual children, the entire class, or the
community. Teachers can also serve as a resource to families by providing books for parents and children, and building a referal
file of agencies and helping professionals.
Key Words early childhood education - curriculum - children - stress - trauma