The concept of crisis and emergency relates to situations that can change people’s lives very suddenly and disrupt their stability, safety, and overall wellbeing of individuals, families and communities. These types of events can include various of causes, for instance, floods, storms, bushfires or heatwaves, as well as human-related crises, for example, forced displacement, family violence, or community emergencies. In Australia, natural disasters have increased in recent years, mainly large-scale flooding and bushfires that have affected many communities in many regions.

When it comes to young children, their sense of predictability, routine and safety is crucial for general healthy development. Emergency situations usually disrupts and reduces those elements of stability, which leads to stress/emotional distress, and confusion. While adults might have a clear understanding of those changes, children who are exposed to sudden changes in their environments can easily lose sense of belonging. That’s when early childhood educator’s sensitive and nurturing approach plays a vital role, helping them comprehend and cope with what is happening, in a positive way, (Kilderry & Raban, 2020).

From Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory perspective, crises affect children within systems of influence. The theory describes that children’s development is formed by interactions among family, communities, institutions, and broader societal systems. Once a crisis occurs, it impacts layers of those systems, (Grace, Bowes, & Woodrow, 2022, pp. 31-32).

There is an another framework in understanding crisis contexts, which is a Trauma Theory, highlights how exposure to threatening events can influence children’s psychological and emotional development. Although, not each child experiences the trauma in the same way, exposure to unsafe environments can impact children’s emotional development and sense of security, (Paivio & Pascual-Leone, 2022).

Family violence is an another serious crisis context that affects children. Young children getting exposed to family violence can negatively impacts children’s emotional wellbeing, relationships with people, and overall development. Early childhood services might sometimes be one of the few stable and secure environments available to children experiencing family violence. Therefore, early childhood educators must be trained to be identify signs of distress and respond appropriately while working within child protection frameworks.

Displacement occurs when families are forced to leave their homes due to housing instability, safety concerns, or natural disasters. Resulting in children losing friends, familiar routines, and community connections. For refugee or migrant families, displacement also involves adjusting to new cultural and social environments, which can add additional challenges during recovery, (Grace et al., 2022, pp.133-150).