How To Help Comfort Children When Disaster Strikes
It is an unfortunate reality of living on planet Earth that disasters can strike at any time. These disasters can be natural in origin – hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, earthquakes, and wildfires. Or they can be man-made – war and armed conflicts, natural gas explosions, structure fires, and transportation accidents.
Whatever their nature, these events can take a serious physical and emotional toll on all affected, especially children.
In this article we will share some things that parents and caregivers can do to help children cope, and find comfort in an often very difficult and tragic situation.
Prepare For What You Can
While some disasters can strike without warning, in other cases you may have some notice in advance, such as an approaching hurricane or a looming wildfire. When you do have the opportunity to prepare, it is important to consider the specific needs of any affected children.
Even with unexpected events such as earthquakes, experts advise preparing in advance, as it can make a big difference in dealing with the aftermath.
If you are advised by authorities to evacuate, and have the time, make a list of important, irreplaceable things to take with you. Even better, prepare such a list in advance, when not under the stress of an emergency. While this list should include important documents and papers, essential medications, and family photos and irreplaceable keepsakes, it should also include specific items important to any children in the family that can’t be replaced.
All of us can develop strong emotional attachment to pets, and this is especially true of children. Pets are part of the family, and their loss can cause a great deal of sorrow and grief. Planning for the safety of your pets in an emergency situation, can help alleviate some of the stress and anxiety your children may have.
Talk To Children In An Appropriate Manner
Whether preparing for the possibility of a catastrophic event, or dealing with its aftermath, communication with your children is critical to help them cope.
The anticipation of, and preparation for, the possibility of hazardous circumstances can bring great stress and anxiety, and dealing with the aftereffects can bring fear of what will happen next.
When talking with children about these things, it’s important to be direct and use age-appropriate, simple language. Be comforting and reassuring, but be honest. It is OK to show emotion, but remember that children will be looking for adults to provide a sense of safety and security, even when it is obvious that the road ahead will be very difficult. In addition to talking to them, listen to them. Encourage them to express their thoughts and feelings.
It is a tragic reality that all too often disasters cause loss of life, both human and animal. The loss of a parent or other relative, or a cherished pet, can having a devastating effect on a child. It is important to understand that children grieve differently than adults. Dr. Cheema-Hasan and Dr. Robles created a video to help parents and caregivers talk to a child about loss, and help them with the grieving process, which can be viewed here.
Utilize A Comfort Kit
A comfort kit can be used for children in emergency situations to help reduce stress and anxiety, and should be part of preparedness planning when children are involved. It should contain small items that can be used to help teach children the same proven stress-reduction techniques practiced by adults.
Items to consider including in the comfort kit are:
- A Set of Animal Finger Puppets – These can be used to teach children abdominal breathing. By laying them on their belly, and having the child focus on them slowly going up and down, rhythmic, relaxing breathing can be achieved.
- Soap Bubbles Bottle– Another tool that combines fun with breath regulation. By taking slow, deep breaths to blow bubbles, children get the benefit of deep breathing relaxation, along with the enjoyment of creating bubbles.
- Small Stress Squeeze Ball or Small Tub of Toy Slime – Gentle squeezing and relaxing sequences can help reduce muscle tension and overall stress.
- Colored Pencils or Crayons and a Blank Notebook – These allow children to express their thoughts and feelings through pictures (and words, if old enough), and can help create points of discussion and connection.
- Biodots or Mood Ring – Both of these allow children to observe color changes based on stress level. When stressed, skin temperature cools, and when relaxed, it warms, creating corresponding color changes.
- A Favorite Little Toy – The addition of a favorite little toy brings the comfort of familiarity.
For additional tips about what to add to a comfort kit, and instructions on how to use them to reduce stress and anxiety, please visit this website.
Restore A Routine As Soon As Possible
One of the best ways to help children start the recovery and healing process after a disaster is to recreate some type of structure and routine in their lives. Understandably, this can be very difficult initially, depending on how wide an area was impacted, and the extent of damage and disruptions to services and transportation.
Immediately afterward, help and comfort may take the form of a temporary shelter operated by professional organizations specializing in disaster relief. Even in this type of setting, establishing simple routines such as regular meal times, and reading a story at bedtime, can provide reassurance to help children feel secure.
If your home or apartment was damaged and is uninhabitable, taking up residence with friends or other family members could help a child get back to a routine in a safe space.
As previously mentioned, children do not process loss, grief or change like adults. It is important to be patient, and give children time to adjust to new surroundings and environments, such as living in a new neighborhood or going to a new school.
Life does go on after a disaster. Initially things will be different , and often there will be permanent changes. People, by nature, do not like change, kids especially. But change is not always bad, and in fact sometimes positive things can come from it.
One exception, of course, is if there was a loss of loved ones. The loss of family members or close friends has a profound impact on all involved, but even more so on children. Here again is a link to a video on this subject. Enlisting the aid of a professional grief counselor who specializes in working with children can also be very helpful.
Early Intervention To Help Prevent PTSD
A common video game, Tetris, may help prevent post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Research has shown that playing Tetris within hours of a traumatic event may reduce the likelihood of intrusive memories of that traumatic event. Researchers also noted that after a reminder of a specific intrusive memory, playing Tetris for just 25 minutes, decreased the effect of the intrusive memory. Tetris can typically be accessed on your mobile phone platform.
While Tetris is a promising approach to help prevent PSTD, other interventions like play therapy, expressive arts therapy, trauma- focused cognitive behavioral therapy ( CBT), parent child interaction therapy (PCIT), and eye movement desensitization and processing (EMDR) therapy can also reduce the risk of PTSD. It is important to tailor these interventions based on the child’s developmental age, cognitive abilities, and emotional needs to promote long-term psychological well being
Whether you are preparing for a possible situation that we hope never comes to fruition, or are actively trying to help a child deal with the aftermath of a disaster, we hope this information is helpful.
It is important to remember all children are unique, and may respond differently to traumatic events. If you need additional help or resources, please reach out to us at Coralis Health. We are always here to help!
