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| Holding and hugging a child gives reasurrance in times of trouble. |
Your child may continue to be fearful following a major storm or disaster because of the uncertainty of your future. A child can mix up real fear and make-believe fear. This is OK. You can help.
- Don’t leave your child alone in a new place.
- Stay together to assure your child you won’t go away.
- Explain to your child about the disaster.
- Let your child know you were afraid. Talk with your child while holding him or her.
- Help your child talk about the hurricane.
- Be quiet and listen to your child.
- Tell your child it is OK to be afraid.
- Hug and hold your child.
- Talk, explain and listen to your child, over and over as necessary.
- Tell your child a story about something good that happened that day.
If you stay concerned about your child, seek support. School counselors and clergy can help you find professional help. Remember, this is a hard time for you, too.
Childcare During and After a Disaster
Immediately after a disaster and during the recovery time, you may be concerned about your child care. Where will your children be secure? Who can watch them as you deal with cleanup, repairs or while contacting agencies and organizations? If you do not have your regular childcare arrangements available after the hurricane, check with churches, clergy, church members, childcare facilities, relatives, sitters or neighbors.
After-school activities will give the child a meaningful place to be and free you to deal with the crisis. Library programs, municipal recreation department events, 4-H clubs, boys and girls clubs, the YMCA, the YWCA and church youth groups are other alternatives. There may be money available to help you pay for the care through the Louisiana Department of Social Services – Office of Family Support.
General Guidelines
- Spend as much time as possible with your child. Use part of that time to talk about the disaster and what you are doing to improve your family’s situation.
- Your child will be comforted by things that are familiar. If possible, get copies of photos from family and friends and try to replace your child’s lost stuffed animals.
- Expect greater difficulty at times of separation (leaving for school, bedtime) and offer extra reassurance to your child. Let your child know where you are. Daytime phone calls can help comfort your child.
- Strictly supervise and limit your child’s viewing of the disaster on television and other media. Repeated viewing of disaster scenes can be distressing for children. If possible, when your child is watching television, discuss the programs you see.
- Allow your child to talk about the disaster, but do not force it. When discussing it, stress that he or she is now safe. Do this over and over as necessary.
Adapted by Dr. Rebecca White, Extension Family and Child Development Specialist, LSU AgCenter, from North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service Disaster Resources, Author: Dr. Karen DeBord, Extension Child Development Specialist.