Parents can do a lot to help their children prepare for and respond to disasters.

WHAT IS A DISASTER? It’s any sudden event that brings destruction and results in a lot of damage and loss.

Children look to adults to learn what to do in new situations. The way you react to a disaster can affect how children will react. If a parent talks about his or her concerns, then a child may feel it’s OK to talk about their own feelings.

• Keeping a child home or from playing with friends for fear of “what may happen” can leave a child feeling disconnected and afraid.
• Daily school routines can provide a sense of security for children. Keeping routines after a disaster can help children feel calm and safe.

Consider how you might react to a disaster. Understanding how your reaction can affect children is the first step toward learning how to help children cope. What are some ways you could change your behavior to have a more positive impact?

Certain “built-in” factors can help children recover more quickly.

• A supportive family
• A strong support system beyond family (may include contacts at school, healthcare, and the religious community)
• Stable, positive peer relations
• Not having money worries

 For more information contact Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health, 355-1540.

This entry was posted on Friday, February 27th, 2009 at 12:51 pm and is filed under Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.