When It’s Too Hot to Play, Sleep, or Learn: Supporting Children and Caregivers in a Warming World
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.
This webinar invites you to expand your understanding of what it means to create healthy, equitable developmental environments. We explore how to build systems that not only respond to climate realities but actively support child and family development in a changing world.
Explore More
Leading an Early Childhood Team Through the Quality Improvement Process
Article October 7, 2026
Published in Young Children, this 2024 article provides an operational guide for aligning state QIS requirements with broader national standards, quality grants, and staff incentives.
Much-Needed Changes in Child Care Quality Rating and Improvement Systems Should Promote Equity
Blog October 7, 2026
Blog authors Gina Adams and Danielle Ewen outline systemic flaws in traditional models. This 2024 blog details how traditional QRIS frameworks often inadequately support parents, underinvest in actual center improvement, and inadvertently exacerbate funding inequalities among diverse childcare providers.
Four Trends in Early Care and Education Quality Rating and Improvement Systems
Fact Sheet October 7, 2026
This 2024 brief evaluates Parent Aware (Minnesota's system) and synthesizes interviews across six states (Delaware, Louisiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Washington). It identifies critical, modern pathways for administrators looking to overhaul and redesign state frameworks.