**1. Introduction**

Since its emergence more than 2 years ago, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in unprecedented stress for families around the world [1], and perhaps even more so for children [2]. Designed to help curtail the spread of the causative coronavirus, various "curve-flattening" measures have disrupted and/or distorted traditional social networks [3]. In this context, the stress in the absence of protective relationships can quickly become toxic, harming one's mental and physical health [4]. Interpersonal connections enable the conveyance of compassion and empathy. Without the presence of the above, individual development and well-being are likely to be negatively affected. This chapter discusses the topic of toxic stress (TS) among families and children during the current pandemic, focusing on identifying risk factors and deriving pragmatic solutions. These considerations are further superimposed on the relevance of TS to the general area of international health security, both in the short- and long-term timescales.
