Abstract:

Armed conflicts create pervasive stressors that negatively affect the physical and mental health of families. In Israel, Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) systems are integral to family life, with nearly 99% of children aged three to five attending such frameworks. During escalations in conflict, these facilities are often closed, causing significant disruption to the daily routines of parents and young children. This study investigates the impact of ECEC closures on family well-being, specifically examining parental distress, parent-child interactions, and child behavioral difficulties during the May 2021 "Guardian of the Walls" military operation.

The research utilized data from 474 Israeli Jewish families with children aged 1-7, collected through an online survey immediately following the conflict. The methodology employed a two-part approach: a natural experiment involving a sub-sample (N=146) of families exposed to similar security threats but different ECEC policies, and multivariate regression analyses for the full sample (N=474). This design allowed for the assessment of ECEC status while controlling for various sociodemographic factors and external threat levels, such as the frequency of missile alarms.

Results from the natural experiment showed that parents in areas where ECEC facilities were closed reported significantly higher distress levels and more frequent negative parent-child interactions, including yelling and punishment, compared to those whose children attended open facilities. Furthermore, children staying at home exhibited higher levels of difficulties, such as crying, tantrums, and separation anxiety. Crucially, there was no compensatory increase in positive interactions, such as quality time or book reading, among families where children remained at home despite the increased time spent together.Multivariate regression analyses confirmed that maintaining open ECEC was significantly associated with reduced parental distress. The findings indicated a mediation effect, where ECEC closure increased parental distress, which subsequently led to more negative parenting practices. While children’s behavioral difficulties were primarily driven by external security threats and parental distress, the availability of ECEC served as a vital buffer for the family unit.

These findings underscore the importance of classifying ECEC as essential services during emergencies. The study suggests that keeping educational frameworks open during armed conflicts helps maintain daily routines, which is protective for both parental mental health and child well-being. Policymakers should focus on investing in infrastructure and safety protocols to ensure the continued operation of these frameworks during crises to support family resilience.

Keywords:

Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC), Armed conflict, Parental distress, Parent-child interactions, Child behavioral difficulties.