Protecting Children: Tips for Parents

Hurricanes, floods and other natural disasters can have an emotional impact on children. DePelchin encourages parents to help protect and support their children in aftermath of a disaster.

Tips for parents include:

• Shield children from viewing serious injuries and damage as much as possible
• Try to remain calm and monitor adult conversations to minimize children’s distress
• Let children know what adults are doing to help the community recover from the storm
• Get children involved in the response effort, in age-appropriate ways, to boost their sense of control
• Be sympathetic to children’s sense of loss over pets and special toys
• Repeatedly reassure children that they are safe
• Spend more time with children at bedtime, when they may be more anxious about separation and the unknown
• Maintain daily routines and expectations for children as much as possible
• Be patient with children when they return to school. They may be distracted and have difficulty concentrating

Resources

Recovery: After a Hurricane

After the Hurricane: Helping Young Children Heal

Hurricane Trauma Assessment Tool