May 2025 – New research from the RAPID Survey Project reveals a troubling trend: extreme weather events are significantly limiting children’s outdoor play—a crucial element of early development. Three-quarters of parents and over half of childcare providers report reducing outdoor time due to rising temperatures, heatwaves, and other climate-related events. This isn’t a future concern but a present reality causing measurable physical, emotional, and financial stress on families and childcare providers alike. The Early Learning Nation article by KC Compton, an experienced Seattle-based writer focusing on children’s well-being issues, explores these impacts and their implications for young children’s physical, social, and emotional development.