Supporting parents with empathy and compassion

The aim of this article is to provide guidance and strategies for professionals working with children and families during the current cost-of-living crisis. Currently, there are many families living in poverty in the UK and around the world and the need for support is significantly higher than it has been for decades. Professionals working with children and families are in a good position to support families, so we give practical advice on ways to do this. An important underlying principle is to do so with empathy and compassion, which is something that professionals in the early childhood field are skilled in demonstrating. A consequence of this emotion work is the impact on professionals, the emotional burden often resulting in stress or burnout. Early childhood settings need to ensure that they are doing all they can to support those who are supporting others.