Annette La Greca, distinguished professor of psychology and pediatrics, shares how to help your child cope with all that comes with a natural disaster.
Thirty years ago, on August 24, 1992, Hurricane Andrew made landfall south of Miami as a powerful Category 5 hurricane causing record damage and leaving tens of thousands of South Floridians homeless and jobless.
Recovery was a gradual effort as many South Miami-Dade residents rebuilt and revived a sense of normalcy, but for some, getting back to their previous level of functioning proved more challenging, especially for children.
More than halfway through the 2022 hurricane season, Annette La Greca, Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Pediatrics at the University of Miami College of Arts and Sciences, shared some tips for caregivers to help children cope before and after a natural disaster. A leading expert on the subject of natural disaster preparedness and recovery, she has studied trauma, risk, and resilience in children for more than three decades.
La Greca’s research has illustrated how scared and confused children can be before and after a disaster. Provides information on how children and teens react to disasters and what can be done to help them cope.
Before a disaster
Even before a disaster strikes, and especially in the days leading up to a possible hurricane (or wildfire/or flood), children and families can feel very stressed. This is due to uncertainty about the potential disaster and fears for personal safety. Families may be wondering or discussing whether they need to evacuate, trying to figure out where to go, and deciding what to do to protect their home and possessions. Children may be asking, “Is the hurricane coming?” “Will it be bad?” “How bad?” “What can I do to keep myself safe?”
Key signs that a child is stressed before the storm:
Expresses fear or concern about the hurricane/disaster. You have trouble falling or staying asleep. Has trouble paying attention and concentrating (like in school). You are more angry or irritable than usual. Complains of stomachaches, headaches, or other feelings of discomfort.
after a disaster
If everything goes back to normal after a disaster, the children will eventually calm down. But, if they experience a life-threatening situation, such as breaking doors or windows where they stayed or seeing someone get hurt, or if they feel their lives are in danger, they may show a stress reaction. These responses may also occur if the child and family experienced many losses and disruptions from the disaster, such as damage or destruction of their home, loss of pets or toys, or school disruptions.
Children who are stressed after a hurricane would show some of the aforementioned symptoms. But they may also show some of these additional signs of stress:
Worry that another disaster or something bad might happen. Having repetitive thoughts or dreams about the disaster. Feeling sad and losing interest in things you used to enjoy. They feel that people do not understand them. Feeling jumpy and nervous. Getting angry with others more than usual.
It is normal for children and adults to experience multiple signs of stress after a disaster. However, if the feelings do not resolve within a few months, as things return to normal, they may benefit from seeking professional help.
Tactics for caregivers to help their children manage stress
It is always important to keep the lines of communication open. You can encourage children to express how they feel, including using emojis, or ask them to write how they feel, or ask them directly: How was your day? What was the best thing that happened to you? What was it that bothered you the most?
Caregivers who are good listeners and who talk to their children regularly will find it easy to learn how their children react to a disaster, both before and after the event.
One thing everyone in the family can do is help prepare their disaster kits (what to take if they leave home) and help with preparations at home. Everyone should be involved in creating a family disaster plan and then in implementing the plan, should a disaster threaten to strike. Once disaster preparations are made, everyone in the family can help by “distracting” and “relaxing”. Participate in some family activities. Try to identify some fun things that don’t require electricity, like a card or board game. Make sure everyone has enough batteries to power the devices they use to relax. Everyone in the family should try to practice good “stress management” by eating well, exercising, and maintaining a regular sleep routine. Limit television/social media viewing of disasters for everyone. Watching non-stop disaster-related news coverage will only add stress. Get the vital information you need, then turn off your TV, computer, or device.
You can find more information about healthy coping tactics and solutions for special situations in La Greca’s book, “After the storm”. Download a free copy in English and Spanish.
Source: news.miami.edu