Supporting Young Children in the Aftermath of Wildfires: Implications, Coping, and Classroom Practices

Lindsey Nenadal; Lauren K. McKeague; Robin H. LeMaire

doi:10.1007/978-3-032-13683-1_11

Supporting Young Children in the Aftermath of Wildfires: Implications, Coping, and Classroom Practices

Lindsey Nenadal
, Lauren K. McKeague
, Robin H. LeMaire

School of Public and Community Health Sciences

California State University Chico

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

Abstract

Each year, wildfires burn millions of acres globally, and their intensity and frequency are expected to rise steadily over the coming century. These fires pose numerous immediate and long-term risks to the physical, social, emotional, and mental health of young children. Unfortunately, children’s needs after natural disasters are often understudied and underserved. This chapter will explore the impact of wildfires on children, highlight ongoing research to improve our understanding of their needs after a fire, and provide strategies for professionals to offer support in the aftermath.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Educating the Young Child
Publisher	Springer Science and Business Media B.V.
Pages	139-152
Number of pages	14
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-13683-1_11
State	Published - 2026

Publication series

Name	Educating the Young Child
Volume	19
ISSN (Print)	2543-0610
ISSN (Electronic)	2543-0629

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

Child development
Disaster preparedness
Early childhood
Emergency response
Wildfires

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-032-13683-1_11

Cite this

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Supporting Young Children in the Aftermath of Wildfires: Implications, Coping, and Classroom Practices. / Nenadal, Lindsey; McKeague, Lauren K.; LeMaire, Robin H.
Educating the Young Child. Springer Science and Business Media B.V., 2026. p. 139-152 (Educating the Young Child; Vol. 19).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

TY - CHAP

T1 - Supporting Young Children in the Aftermath of Wildfires

T2 - Implications, Coping, and Classroom Practices

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AU - McKeague, Lauren K.

AU - LeMaire, Robin H.

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026.

PY - 2026

Y1 - 2026

N2 - Each year, wildfires burn millions of acres globally, and their intensity and frequency are expected to rise steadily over the coming century. These fires pose numerous immediate and long-term risks to the physical, social, emotional, and mental health of young children. Unfortunately, children’s needs after natural disasters are often understudied and underserved. This chapter will explore the impact of wildfires on children, highlight ongoing research to improve our understanding of their needs after a fire, and provide strategies for professionals to offer support in the aftermath.

AB - Each year, wildfires burn millions of acres globally, and their intensity and frequency are expected to rise steadily over the coming century. These fires pose numerous immediate and long-term risks to the physical, social, emotional, and mental health of young children. Unfortunately, children’s needs after natural disasters are often understudied and underserved. This chapter will explore the impact of wildfires on children, highlight ongoing research to improve our understanding of their needs after a fire, and provide strategies for professionals to offer support in the aftermath.

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KW - Disaster preparedness

KW - Early childhood

KW - Emergency response

KW - Wildfires

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PB - Springer Science and Business Media B.V.

ER -

Supporting Young Children in the Aftermath of Wildfires: Implications, Coping, and Classroom Practices

Abstract

Publication series

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

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