Assisting Young Children Caught in Disasters

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xvi

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2. Introduction: Assisting Young Children Caught in Disasters

   • Judit Szente

   Pages 1-5

3. Human Crises and Their Implications on the Education and the Social-Emotional Development of Young Children

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 7-7

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   2. The Impact of Community Violence Exposure on the Developmental Outcomes of Young Children of Color

      • Yvette R. Harris

      Pages 9-24

   3. When War and Terrorism Enter the Lives of Young Children

      • Judith A. Myers-Walls

      Pages 25-35

   4. Young Children in Military Families

      • Erica Culler, Tara Saathoff-Wells

      Pages 37-46

   5. Trafficking of Vulnerable Children in Southeast Asia

      • Deanna Davy

      Pages 47-55

   6. Coping with Parents’ Work Migration in China: The Stress and Adjustment of Children Who Got Left-Behind

      • Chun Tao, Paul A. Miller, Jun Gao

      Pages 57-69

   7. The Psychosocial Effects of Radiation Disasters on Young Children

      • John S. Murray

      Pages 71-80

   8. HIV/AIDS and the Socio-emotional Development of Children in Southern Africa

      • George Chitiyo, Morgan Chitiyo

      Pages 81-91

   9. When the Basic Necessities of Life Are Missing: The Impact of Poverty on Children

      • Judith N. Levin

      Pages 93-101

4. Environmental Disasters and Their Implications on the Education and the Social-Emotional Development of Young Children

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 103-103

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   2. The Effects of Hunger on Physical and Cognitive Development of Children

      • Grace Jepkemboi

      Pages 105-114

   3. School Districts’ and Teachers’ Response to Hurricanes and Their Impact on Children

      • Holly K. Howat

      Pages 115-122

   4. Long Term Effects of the 2010 Earthquake on Haitian Children and Their Determination to Survive

      • Edwidge Crevecoeur Bryant, Emily Blum

      Pages 123-130

   5. Occurrence and Prevention of Frostbites in Children

      • Tiina Maria Ikäheimo

      Pages 131-141

   6. “Hope is in Our Hands:” Impacts of the Slave Lake Wildfires in Alberta, Canada on Children

      • Judith C. Kulig, Ivan Townshend, Anna Pujadas Botey, Blythe Shepard

      Pages 143-156

   7. Classroom Intervention with Young Children After a Tornado Disaster

      • Paul A. Miller, Chun Tao, Mary H. Burleson

      Pages 157-170

   8. Literature as Support: Using Picturebooks to Assist Young Children in Coping with Natural Disasters and Human Crises

      • Patricia A. Crawford, Sherron Killingsworth Roberts

      Pages 171-180

5. Conclusion

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 181-181

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This volume discusses 14 different types of disasters and their implications on the social, emotional and academic development of young children, from birth through age eight. It focuses on human-related crises and disasters such as community violence exposure; war and terrorism; life in military families; child trafficking; parent migration; radiation disasters; HIV/AIDS; and poverty. The environment-related disasters addressed in this book include hunger; hurricanes; earthquakes; frostbites; wildfires; and tornadoes. The volume includes suggestions for interventions, such as using picture books with young children in coping with natural disasters and human crises. In addition, each chapter provides research-based strategies for early childhood and related professionals to be used in the classroom.

Many children in our world today experience some type of disasters and/or crises. These crises or disasters can either be human- or environment-related and can interrupt children’s daily lives. They often negatively impact children’s development, education, and safety. Bringing together authors representing a variety of countries including Australia, Canada, China, Finland, Haiti, Hungary, Kenya, USA, and Zimbabwe, this book provides truly global perspectives on the various types of disasters and their implications for our work with young children. 

• research-based disaster-specific interventions
• academic and social-emotional development of children
• international issues in early childhood
• impact of community violence on children
• children in crises
• left-behind children's stress and adjustment
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• social/emotional strategies for young children
• educational interventions
• psychosocial effects of radiation disasters
• school districts' responses to hurricanes
• early childhood professionals
• sustaining telecommunications in difficult environments

“This edited book by Szente really spans on so many important contributions. These contributions are notable in that they encompass many often overlooked arenas that contribute to human crises and disasters, from hunger to hurricanes, to the unique challenges of military families and the overwhelming problems of trafficking of children. They also bring much needed perspectives and possible resolutions. I would imagine that courses across the university, such as social work, early childhood education, sociology, teacher education, peace studies, international studies, and public policy programs could benefit from the information in this book.” (Sherron Killingsworth Roberts, School of Teaching, Learning, and Leadership, University of Central Florida, USA)

“The available written material that is geared for educators is often in an article or pamphlet form and covers only one situation, whereas this book presents a wide array of problems and presents the perspective of the educator.” (Jean P. Kirnan, Psychology Department, The College of New Jersey, USA)

“ … with increasing attention to children in crises, [the book] is certainly something that even mainstream teachers need to be aware of. I am particularly happy to see human crises and environmental crises put together in one resource. Although they are different, the underlying lack of physical and psychological safety—and ongoing post-traumatic stress, results in issues that have a lot in common. Combining them also makes it more likely that this book is more widely appealing ... Although each chapter is well-written, the strongest aspect of the work is seeing them altogether. Helping researchers, practitioners, and policymakers realize that there is a common element across a range of experiences and that lack of sense of safety can lead to the same type of long-term negative outcomes – brings together many disparate circumstances with a unifying voice.” (Shannon B. Wanless, School of Education, Universityof Pittsburgh, USA)

• Early Childhood Development and Education, Department of Child, Family, and Community Sciences, University of Central Florida, Orlando, USA

  Judit Szente

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