Talking with Your Child About Natural Disasters
Since the greater Columbia area is preparing for Hurricane Florence, we felt that it is important for you to have resources to help you discuss what's happening with your child.
This page from Ready.gov offers suggestions of how to talk to your child about what is happening. Discussion points are broken down by age group so your discussion is age appropriate and doesn’t overwhelm or add to anxiety.
This page from Ready.gov reports facts about hurricanes as well as provides do’s and don’ts for before, during, and after a hurricane.
Suggestions from the American School Counselor Association:
Limit exposure to television and the news.
Be honest with kids and share with them as much information as they are developmentally able to handle.
Listen to kids’ fears and concerns.
Parents and adults need to first deal with and assess their own responses to crisis and stress.
This document (in .pdf format) provides great ideas on how parents can help their child in the aftermath of a natural disaster. A very comprehensive document with step-by-step instructions for engaging children in conversations. Not lengthy, but comprehensive.
Helping Children Cope: Tips for Parents and Caregivers
This document from the American School Counselor Association gives concrete ways parents and caregivers can help children cope with the aftermath of a natural disaster as well as typical reactions of children to stress and potentially traumatic events.
