Supporting Children After a Disaster

07/02/2015

Supporting Children After a Disaster

I have learned over the years that when one's mind is made up, this diminishes fear.
Rosa Parks

In their book, Preparing for Disaster: What Every Early Childhood Director Needs to Know, Cathy Grace and Elizabeth Shores offer advice such as this for providing a safe environment for children after a disaster:

Give physical comfort. Hold, stroke, rock, and gently speak to infants and children who are frightened.... Shield children from television and radio reports and adult conversations about the disaster they experienced.

Listen and respond. Attend to children's expressions of fear and anxiety and their retelling of their stories of the disaster.... When children describe their experiences... or ask questions... help them handle fear and anxiety by responding simply and honestly.

Restore a familiar, predictable classroom routine. Knowing what comes next in a day gives children a feeling of control over their lives. Maintain a predictable schedule; reread favorite books; replay favorite games.

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