NAEYC Releases a New Statement on Protecting Young Children

NAEYC has published a new statement, “Every Child Deserves Safety,” speaking to the harm young children are experiencing through immigration enforcement actions across the United States. NAEYC describes children being detained, witnessing raids at schools and child care settings, and experiencing sudden separation from parents and caregivers, all of which can cause fear, instability, and lasting developmental harm.

In the statement, NAEYC grounds its message in early childhood development science. It notes that toxic stress and abrupt separation from a primary caregiver can disrupt brain development, impair learning, and increase long term health risks. The statement also emphasizes that children do not need to be directly impacted to be harmed, because a climate of fear alone can create chronic stress that undermines healthy development.

NAEYC also outlines specific protections it is calling for at the federal, state, and local levels, including:

• Keeping schools and child care settings safe spaces where enforcement actions should not occur at or near sensitive locations

• Ending the detention of young children in immigration detention facilities

• Prohibiting the use of children in enforcement operations

• Ensuring children’s caregiving needs take priority, so no child is left without a safe, known caregiver

• Expanding trauma informed mental health supports for children, educators, and communities affected by enforcement actions

NAEYC’s message to early childhood educators is direct: many educators are caring for children who are frightened and supporting families who are terrified. The statement encourages educators to keep routines steady, validate children’s feelings without amplifying fear, and recognize that a consistent, caring adult presence matters deeply in moments of uncertainty.

As the DC Affiliate of NAEYC, DCAEYC is sharing this statement because it speaks to a core responsibility in early childhood education: protecting children’s wellbeing so they can learn, grow, and thrive. NAEYC states clearly that every child deserves safety, stability, and the opportunity to learn and grow, and that the wellbeing of children is not negotiable.

We encourage early childhood professionals across the District to read NAEYC’s full statement, share it within your professional networks, and use it as a reference point for strengthening a culture of safety and stability in your program community. We will continue to elevate resources and field facing guidance that support children, families, and educators.