Preparing Kids for Hurricanes Hurricane season is already gearing up. Here are some tips from KidsHealth® on how to help prepare your family and help your kids deal with the stress and emotions of an impending and possible storm. ______________________________________ Hurricanes can be scary — for grown-ups and kids alike. Kids learn how to respond to situations based on the behaviors and attitudes of those around them. Here are some tips to help them — and you — be ready during hurricane season. Talk About Hurricanes Kids might be confused about what a hurricane is, so use simple age-appropriate descriptions of what to expect if one is coming your way. For a younger child, you might say, “A hurricane is a tropical storm with very strong winds and lots of rain, lightning, and thunder.” It’s also important to tell kids that grown-ups will do their best to keep them safe. Try to Remain Calm Yourself Kids can easily sense the emotions of those around them. When a parent seems overly upset or worried, this can make a child’s own fears or worries worse. 14 July 2022| PB Parenting |
Let Kids Help With Pre-storm Preparations Keeping them busy can help keep kids’ minds off of their worries. Helping prepare in ageappropriate ways also can increase a child’s sense of control over the situation. To involve your kids Prepare a family disaster emergency kit. Kids can help collect canned goods and get flashlights ready. Have your kids help bring outdoor items inside. Discuss your family’s disaster plan together. Will you need to evacuate — and what would that look like? Which grown-ups will do what? This will help kids know what to expect. During the Storm Let kids pick a few comfort items, nonelectronic games, and toys in case of power outages. Try to keep as normal a routine as possible. This can help children feel calm and safe. Encourage kids to talk about their feelings or thoughts about what’s happening. Some kids might prefer not to talk right away — and that’s OK too. Spend time together and let them know that you’re there when they’re ready.
