By 
With the Department of Labor’s results of an unemployment rate of 9.1% (of which 12.4% or more are families), we can only imagine the day-to-day stresses at home affecting the entire family. .
Many times, the preschool teacher may not be aware of this situation. Families may be concerned about paying for preschool tuition in addition to paying other bills. This unemployment situation may cause the family to need to remove their child from care for obvious financial reasons. Many families try to keep their children enrolled not only to give them time to look for work, but also to provide continuity for their children during this uncertain time.
The lives of preschoolers are based on daily routines. They may not be aware of unemployment or what it is, but they do know that Mom or Dad, for example, wears blue jeans while they drop them off at school today and Mom or Dad only wear blue jeans on “their day off.” Preschoolers can react by having problems with sudden separation from their parents (they want to take the day off with them!).
This is just one example of a small but meaningful routine for the preschooler, which is different for them. Changes in routines at this age cause confusion and can manifest in behavior problems that are not typical for this child.
Some effects of unemployment on young children may include:
Behavioral changes such as sudden or renewed separation anxiety.
Hitting, biting, or other uncharacteristic increase in aggressive behavior. This can be due to confusion due to changes in routines, lack of sleep, or perhaps even hunger.
Decreased concentration and memory (due to lack of sleep, poor nutrition and / or chronic stress).
What can you do as a preschool teacher?
1. Maintain your daily routines
Families should try to keep their daily routines as consistent as possible.
Teachers must also maintain the same routines. Consistency and predictability will help the preschooler feel more confident.
2. Communicate with each other often.
Families: communication is key. It is important to have a good report with the families from the beginning. Remind them that together they are a team that looks out for their child’s best interest.
Teachers: This is obvious, but let’s check! Listen, listen and listen a little more, to families and children. You will learn a lot if you organize your day so that there is plenty of time for teachers to sit and interact with the children.
3. Keep kids (and families) engaged in healthy habits.
Children (and adults!) Tend to have more restless energy when stressed. Preschoolers need strategies to help burn that off!
Families: Encourage parents to include their preschooler on a daily walk to burn off stress or anxiety together and have a good time together. Also, meal times may change or nutrition may be less of a priority.
Teachers: If you notice that this preschooler has a lot of energy at a certain time of day, you probably need to burn it off! In the past, we changed our recess time to earlier in the day to help children with this. Also, consider having healthy snack alternatives for kids that may come with cookies or nothing at all for a snack or lunch.
4. Remind the group of the rules at the beginning of the year and when needed.
Families should make every effort to maintain the same expectations for behavior and consequences. Easier said than done when we are not the unemployed. Parents may need your help to solve “battles to fight.”
Teachers: As mentioned above, it is very important to maintain the same routines and expectations. Don’t let inappropriate behaviors “creep in” because you may feel bad about what the family is going through. Children need to know that some things have not changed.
5. Show and verbalize your love.
Families: The old adage is true! “Long, strong, and frequent hug!” The amount of stress, fear and anxiety that the family experiences during unemployment is tremendous. Your thoughts are in a million different directions. Many of the thoughts are scary: Will we be able to pay the rent or the mortgage? Is there enough to pay for utilities? What about the food? What if I can’t find a job soon? Remind them to take a break and read a story with their children and take time for an extra hug!
Teachers: Communicate with families. Offer books or book lists to help with this time of separation for your children. Also, occasionally send home a card with a thought of you or a joke to make them laugh. Remind them that you are thinking of them!
Unemployment can be long-term in this economy, so so can stress and the effects on children. Be aware of behavior changes and keep communication with parents open and constant!