![]() ![]() Reassure children that they will be safe and protected.Often the media will show disturbing images and descriptions of the hurricane and its damage, which can again increase children’s anxiety. Limit and/or supervise media exposure as much as possible.Children are often listening in and can misinterpret what they hear, leading to further anxiety/concerns. Try to monitor conversations you are having with other adults regarding the storms, flooding, damage, etc. ![]() Children are extremely tuned into caregivers’ own reactions during stressful times, and they will often model their own behavior/coping based on what they observe. Although easier said than done, try to remain calm.What questions do you have for me that I might be able to answer?” Here are some additional tips for caregivers to help facilitate children’s adjustment after a storm or hurricane: ![]() For example, a caregiver might say, “I know things may seem confusing or upsetting right now. Often they can only absorb small pieces of information at a time and may feel overwhelmed if provided with too much information at once. It is often best to allow children to take the lead in having these discussions. One way of alleviating children’s anxiety is to make it clear that caregivers are open to answering any questions they may have, and even if they don’t have an immediate answer, they will do their best to give them as much information as possible. On the other hand, some children or adolescents may not want to talk about the events and may prefer to distract themselves. Although this can feel frustrating to caregivers, it can help to remember this is their way of attempting to make sense of a scary and unpredictable situation. How caregivers can meet their children’s needsĬhildren will have many questions during and after a hurricane or other damaging storm and will often repeat questions even if they’ve already been answered. They may also engage in more risk-taking behaviors as a means of coping including drinking alcohol, using substances or engaging in dangerous activities.
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