Understanding the impact of air pollution on young children in Delhi through the voices of parents, teachers, and children

Climate change is increasingly considered as one of the greatest threats to the health, development and well-being of children. New Delhi's winter smog has raised concerns about the immediate and long-term effects of air pollution on children. Young children are physiologically more vulnerable to air pollutants. The current New Delhi Air Quality Index is 302, indicating a hazardous level of real-time air pollution, with PM2.5 levels. This study is designed to fill this critical gap in climate change and its impact on schooling and health. It examines how poor air quality affects preschool children by capturing the perspectives of not only children but also the significant adults who shape their environment, i.e., their parents and teachers. To explore this, the study employed a robust qualitative design to capture rich contextual data on lived experiences. The study employed qualitative data collection tools, i.e. a semi-structured interview with 30 parents and 25 early childhood educators across diverse socio-economic settings in Delhi. In addition, the study adopted a child-centred approach, engaging 53 preschoolers through drawings and guided conversations, and capturing their voices and lived experiences related to rising air pollution in their neighbourhood. The findings suggest that children are impacted by the air pollution and the same was confirmed by parents and teachers. The majority of the children in this study expressed distress due to a lack of outdoor play, separation from nature, illness, and restrictions. Furthermore, children's, parents' and teachers' responses show that we need to support children’s social and emotional development by integrating nature and natural environments into the curriculum.