“They need nurturance; they need to be seen”: Early care and education for children exposed to intimate partner violence

Exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) can disrupt and impair children’s early development. Some evidence suggests that early care and education (ECE) participation may buffer some of these negative influences, but this area remains understudied. The current study draws on primary data from in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 17 IPV survivor mothers of young children and 6 ECE providers in New England to examine the ECE needs of children exposed to IPV and the supportive factors within ECE settings that can promote their resilience. Findings revealed that children’s IPV exposure tended to increase their needs from ECE providers and settings, and that ECE providers’ awareness of children’s IPV exposure and adequate understanding of IPV dynamics were important for supporting these needs. Participants reported key resilience-promoting features within ECE settings for children exposed to IPV: 1) risk-focused factors, such as reduced exposure to IPV and prevention of IPV perpetrators’ unsafe contact with children, 2) resource-focused factors, including nurturance, stability, and facilitated access to therapeutic services, and 3) process-focused factors, including scaffolded opportunities to strengthen emotion regulation and social development. Results highlight the important role of high quality ECE for young children exposed to IPV and suggest its potential for promoting their resilience.