When It’s Too Hot to Play, Sleep, or Learn: Supporting Children and Caregivers in a Warming World
May 8
When we think about young children and temperature, we often think about cold conditions and the protections needed to stay warm and safe. But how often do we consider the opposite: extreme heat? As climate change drives temperatures higher, extreme heat is becoming a more frequent and dangerous part of everyday life, especially for young children and caregivers living in under-resourced communities.
Environmental conditions, like heat exposure, aren’t just comfort issues—they’re critical developmental concerns. Prolonged exposure to extreme heat can elevate stress on pregnant individuals, worsen chronic health conditions, and affect how young children play, sleep, and learn. For families already navigating economic and social instability, these environmental stressors can further impact healthy development and caregiver well-being.
Join the PN-3 Capacity-Building Hub/BUILD and the Harvard Center on the Developing Child for the next webinar in the Whole Child, Whole Family, Whole Systems Webinar Series. This webinar invites you to expand your understanding of what it means to create healthy, equitable developmental environments. Join us to explore how to build systems that not only respond to climate realities but actively support child and family development in a changing world.
Serie de seminarios web: Niño completo, familia completa, sistemas completos
Cuando hace demasiado calor para jugar, dormir o aprender: Apoyando a los niños y sus cuidadores en un mundo en calentamiento
Cuando pensamos en niños pequeños y la temperatura, solemos pensar en el frío y las protecciones necesarias para mantenerse abrigados y seguros. Pero, ¿con qué frecuencia consideramos lo contrario: el calor extremo? A medida que el cambio climático aumenta las temperaturas, el calor extremo se está convirtiendo en una parte más frecuente y peligrosa de la vida cotidiana, especialmente para niños pequeños y cuidadores que viven en comunidades de bajos recursos.
Las condiciones ambientales, como la exposición al calor, no solo afectan la comodidad, sino que también son problemas críticos para el desarrollo. La exposición prolongada al calor extremo puede aumentar el estrés durante el embarazo, empeorar las enfermedades crónicas y afectar la forma en que los niños pequeños juegan, duermen y aprenden. Para las familias que ya enfrentan inestabilidad económica y social, estos factores de estrés ambiental pueden afectar aún más el desarrollo saludable y el bienestar de los cuidadores.
Únase al Centro de Desarrollo de Capacidades PN-3, basado en The BUILD Initiative (PN-3 Capacity-Building Hub at the BUILD Initiative) y al Centro del Desarrollo Infantil en Harvard para el en el próximo seminario web de la serie, “Niño completo, familia completa, sistemas completos.” Este seminario web le invita a ampliar su comprensión de lo que significa crear entornos de desarrollo saludables y equitativos. Acompáñenos a explorar cómo construir sistemas que no solo respondan a las realidades climáticas, sino que también apoyen activamente el desarrollo infantil y familiar en un mundo cambiante.
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When It’s Too Hot to Play, Sleep, or Learn: Supporting Children and Caregivers in a Warming World
Archived Webinar May 12, 2025
When we think about young children and temperature, we often think about cold conditions and the protections needed to stay warm and safe. But how often do we consider the opposite: extreme heat? As climate change drives temperatures higher, extreme heat is becoming a more frequent and dangerous part of everyday life, especially for young children and caregivers living in under-resourced communities.