Some children barely noticed the earthquake that rattled the East Coast Tuesday. Youngsters on summer break have been known to rattle a few windows themselves, after all. And while kids are resilient, some may also need reassurance and comfort, whether recovering from a quake or preparing for a hurricane, experts say.
"Understandably, children and adults may be fearful of things that they cannot control, especially when their safety is at risk," says Austin pediatrician Ari Brown, author of Baby 411. Pediatricians offer these suggestions for helping kids prepare for emergencies, and cope with any physical and emotional aftershocks.
•Prepare for emergencies in advance. In addition to keeping extra food and water in the house, talk to kids about how to respond to the unexpected, Brown says. Place a fire ladder in their room, for example, go over escape routes and teach them whom to call in an emergency. "That goes a long way to remaining calm when an event happens," Brown says. "Make sure that a child's basic needs are met and keep to their routines as much as possible." Remind kids about everything you've done to keep them safe, says Seattle pediatrician Wendy Sue Swanson, who writes a blog called "Seattle Mama Doc."
•Develop an emergency communication plan. After Tuesday's earthquake, many people were distressed that their cell phones didn't work. Swanson recommends teaching everyone in the family to text, because text messages often can get through, even when voice lines are overwhelmed. Train family members to check other social media, such email, Facebook or Twitter. And if local phone lines are jammed, try calling someone outside the area. Sometimes, calls outside the region can get through, while local calls can't. Ask your long-distance contact to try to reach family members for you, Swanson says.
•Find out if your child's school has an emergency plan. Make sure the school can reach you or another caregiver or family member. Swanson says her son's school even asked her to write a letter to him, in case she's ever out of reach during an emergency. Leaving a reassuring note and photograph might help to comfort a child who's feeling lonely, she says.
•Project a sense of calm. Kids look to parents and other trusted adults to create a feeling of safety and security. Explain what's happening in simple terms and emphasize that adults are doing everything possible to keep everyone safe. "You are your child's role model," Brown says. "If you freak out, so will your child."
•Let kids ask questions. You may need to repeat information that's difficult to understand. "You might not have all the answers, but you can try to explain events in kid-friendly language," Brown says. "Tell them it is ok that they were scared. And, young children often think events are caused by something they are responsible for. Clarify that they did not cause this event."
•Respect their feelings. Children may react differently or in unexpected ways, Swanson says. For example, kids may worry about not being able to reach you, or worry about toys falling down.
Child psychologists at Children's National Medical Center in Washington also offer these coping tips.
•Give age-appropriate information. Children react differently depending on their age and emotional stage, so parents may need to tailor their talks to each youngster in the house. You may need to explain about aftershocks, and how they will become weaker and less numerous over time. Avoid giving too much detail, or telling kids more than they can handle.
•Let kids express themselves. Children may not want to talk about their fears, but may feel better if they can process a scary situation through drawing, writing or play acting, such as with dolls or toys.
•Reframe disturbing information. Children get news from lots of sources, from the media to friends or overheard adult conversations. Ask kids what they know and, if they choose, explain what's going on in their own words. That can give you a chance to clear up any misinformation.
•Turn off the TV. Kids may not be able to understand media coverage of an earthquake, especially if the coverage is too sensational. Small children may not understand when broadcasters replay footage of the earthquake, and may assume that there has been another quake. "The images and discussions among commentators may be more scary than experiencing the actual event," Brown says.