ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines why Early Childhood Development is important particularly during emergencies and how it is even more critical for children’s survival and well-being. The first part of the chapter explores the various impacts young children in emergencies face. These impacts include an increase in toxic stress weakening of a caring an protective environment, loss of early stimulation and learning opportunities, and the loss of important nutrition and health services. Young children in emergencies can experience severe stress that can become toxic and have long term deleterious effects on children’s growth and well-being. Those who are resilient, which are most children, are able to bounce back during difficult situations. The chapter explores the factors that can make children more resilient in times of crisis. The second part of the chapter explores the various obstacles and challenges the area of Early Childhood Development faces which prevents it from being prioritised, especially in humanitarian contexts. These challenges include the varying definitions of ECD, gaps in understanding the science behind ECD support, and an acceptance of fulfilling immediate survival needs. Additionally, there are few evidence based ECD in emergencies programmatic models, limited financial and political investments in ECD and governance challenges with regards to coordination, accountability and ownership of ECD.
