Julieverse – an educator. a marketer. a resource.Julieverse – an educator. a marketer. a resource.
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
    • Hair
  • Parenting
  • Education
  • MORE
    • Books
    • Gifts
    • Travel
    • Tech
    • Food
    • Blog
    • Health & Fitness
    • Tattoos and Body Piercings
  • Contact
  • About
What's Hot

Feed-In Braids: A Hairstyle That Deserves the Popularity

February 1, 2023

Why Silver Sandals are a Must-Have in Your Shoe Collection

January 29, 2023

Yellow Shoes: The Bold Footwear Trend That’s Here to Stay

January 29, 2023
Julieverse – an educator. a marketer. a resource.Julieverse – an educator. a marketer. a resource.
  • Home
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
    1. Hair
    2. View All

    Feed-In Braids: A Hairstyle That Deserves the Popularity

    February 1, 2023

    Best Hairstyles Depending on Your Face Shape!

    December 23, 2022

    Get in on the Craze: 15 ‘House of the Dragon’ Hairstyles That Everyone is Dying to Try

    December 20, 2022

    Feed-In Braids: A Hairstyle That Deserves the Popularity

    February 1, 2023

    Best Hairstyles Depending on Your Face Shape!

    December 23, 2022

    Get in on the Craze: 15 ‘House of the Dragon’ Hairstyles That Everyone is Dying to Try

    December 20, 2022

    Chanel’s Vamp Attitude Collection Brings Back the Iconic 90s Nail Polish and More

    December 17, 2022
  • Parenting
  • Education
  • More
    • Books
    • Gifts
    • Travel
    • Tech
    • Food
    • Home Ideas
    • Blog
    • Health & Fitness
    • Tattoos & Body Piercings
  • Contact
  • About
Julieverse – an educator. a marketer. a resource.Julieverse – an educator. a marketer. a resource.
Home » Parenting » Natural Disasters
Parenting

How to talk to your children about natural disasters

Julie Meyers PronBy Julie Meyers PronMarch 3, 2022No Comments4 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
How to talk about natural disasters with your kids
Share
Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Email

In parenting, sometimes nothing is as scary as reality. We wish we could keep our children’s lives full of rainbows, unicorns, and fancy trucks that fly. But we can’t. Because at some point, our children are going to learn about the reality of life, loss, and scary things that are out of our control.

First and foremost, make sure your child knows she is safe

If nothing else, it’s your responsibility as a parent to keep your child safe. And the first way to do that is to tell them they’re safe. Offering hugs and security is your job. So when you sit your child down, make sure he knows that you will do everything you can to keep him as safe as he is, always. During natural disasters, things can always get out of hand. But your kids will feel confident knowing that you’re doing your best for them.

Be gentle in your discussion

Next, tell your children that something horrible or scary, or unplanned happened in the world in a very calm voice. If it makes you cry, that’s okay; you’re sharing your emotional ties to the story. Let them know that what happened is something no one wants to happen and how hard it is for you to share it or know it. But don’t tell them more than they need to know.

Let your child ask the questions

After you tell your child the basics, go ahead and open the floor to their questions and let their questions take them where they need to go. They likely don’t need to know all the statistics that the news is sharing. They may be more interested in what is happening to pets or how kids can get to a hospital. Most likely, kids will need to know how this disaster will affect them or could affect them. Stick with answering their questions, and you’ll keep your children safe.

Expect a follow-up, or two

A day or so after we shared the Haitian earthquake in 2010 with our kids, my 4-year-old came to me saying, “I don’t know what an Earthquake is.” It turned out that he’d been thinking about it off and on through the day before, rolling around the possibilities and the answers we’d given then. But his persona is one that needs to know how things happen. So we took that opportunity to explain fault lines and the earth shifting. Had we shared all of this when we told him about the quake, he might have been overwhelmed with facts. He asked when he was ready.

Offer ways you can help as a family

As Pennsylvanians, we were fortunate during Hurricane Sandy. Our house had minimal damage, and we never lost power. We know it could have been much worse. During the worst of the storm, my kids and I cleaned out their closets, trying on clothing, and setting things aside to give to charity. Later that week, when discussing what to do with the extra 5-year-old boy’s clothing, my son asked if we could bring it to the kids that lost their homes. While that wasn’t possible, we researched drop-off points and lists of supplies and things needed. When we found a drop-off (the ladies of PSMM teamed up to donate), my son raced to his room to find more to help. Many kids want to help other kids, especially those who are able to imagine if they lost their own homes.

Further resources to discuss disasters with your kids

  • I posted Earthquakes for Kids lists several parent conversations and resources after the Japanese Tsunami in 2011.
  • Ready.gov partners with FEMA to prepare children for any disaster
  • I wrote Defining an Earthquake after the Earthquake devastated Haiti in 2010, and my kids had questions
  • National Association of School Psychologists offers suggestions on how to help children who have experienced a disaster
  • CNN.com offers 5 ways to help children cope in a disaster
  • On Rusty & Rosy, I share more tips for talking with your children about natural disasters.
Previous ArticleTeaching pi with pie, of course: a basic lesson in Geometry for kids
Next Article Dear Bloggers, Please… (advice to bloggers from bloggers and marketers)
Julie Meyers Pron
Julie Meyers Pron
  • Website
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • Tumblr
  • LinkedIn

I'm an elementary school teacher and a Public Relations manager. I'm the owner/editor of Julieverse. A marketing strategist and freelance education and parenting writer by trade, I attempt to carve out time to enjoy playing with kids, PTO, cooking, and exercise.

Related Posts

Ways Parents Can Empower Children with Speech Disorders

By Julie Meyers PronDecember 21, 2022

5 Reasons Your Teen Should Get a Job

By Julie Meyers PronDecember 7, 2022

Setting Family-Focused New Year’s Resolutions

By Julie Meyers PronJuly 24, 2022

Taking your kids from wild to calm on indoor days

By Julie Meyers PronMarch 13, 2022

Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Don't Miss

Why Silver Sandals are a Must-Have in Your Shoe Collection

By Julie Meyers PronJanuary 29, 2023Updated:January 29, 20238 Mins Read

Have you ever heard of silver sandals? Simply put, they’re sandals with a silver-tone finish…

Yellow Shoes: The Bold Footwear Trend That’s Here to Stay

January 29, 2023

Inner Wrist Tattoos: Ideas and Inspiration for Small, Sentimental Designs

January 3, 2023

Thigh Tattoos: Their Popularity and Design Options

December 30, 2022
Our Picks

Homework help: How much should I proofread my child’s work?

By Julie Meyers PronJanuary 30, 2013Updated:April 10, 20223 Mins Read

Here’s why we aren’t sure Le Tote is a worthwhile investment (UPDATED)

By Julie Meyers PronFebruary 17, 2022Updated:February 17, 20228 Mins Read

Counting Our Blessings–a Quick Look Back at Our Crafting Hour During the Help Our Kids Radiothon

By Julie Meyers PronFebruary 20, 2022Updated:February 20, 20222 Mins Read
About Us

Welcome to Julieverse where I share stories of parenting with advice for parenthood.

As one who has been called a “Momcyclopedia” and a “real life Google,” I’m a mom many come to for advice on day-to-day. I created Julieverse to be a resource with tips to make life easier and more enjoyable for moms. I use my background in education, parenting, and marketing to guide parents in their everyday life.

 

YouTube Pinterest Instagram Twitter Facebook
  • Get In Touch
  • Advertising
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • TOS
© 2023 Julieverse.com. All rights reserved.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.