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Disasters normally strike suddenly and with little warning. These events can be very frightening for you, but even more traumatic for children. In a disaster, they will look to you more for help. How you respond to an emergency will indicate to them how to act.
If you react with fear, a child may become scared. They see our fear as impervious that the danger is indisputable. If you overcome with a sense of loss, a child may feel their losses even more. Feelings of fear are healthy and natural for adults and children. But adults must keep in full control of the situation. When you are sure that the danger has passed, concentrate on your kid's emotional needs by asking what are the uppermost thoughts in his or her mind. Have your children participate in the family's recovery activities it will help them feel that their life will return to normal. Your action during this time may have that lasting impact.
Be aware that after a disaster, children are most afraid that:
· The event will happen again.
· Someone will die.
· They will be separated from you.
· They fear being left alone.
A word of advice to parents:
· Prepare for disasters.
· Develop and practice a family disaster plan.
· Contact your local emergency management offices or your Red Cross chapter for detail information on how your family can create such a disaster plan.
· Everyone in your household should partake in this exercise.Immediately after the disaster, try to reduce your child's anxiety and fear.
· Keep the family together. While you make other
arrangements such as housing and assistance.
· Be gentle but firmly explain the situation. As best as
you can, explain to children what you know about
disaster.
· Encourage your children to talk. Let them discuss with
you and at the same time describe their feeling.
· Recovery activities must include your child. Give them
small chores, this task will help them understand that
everything will be all right.
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