I’ve just come off a call with some colleagues in America. It’s such a frightening time for them at the moment, what with hurricanes and forest fires and the choking smoke that is affecting nearby states and making it hard to breathe, let alone forget the ever-present threat of natural disaster. Times like these are hard for everyone, but especially for our children. The media and the internet don’t exactly help to allay their fears – there’s little escape from the bad news some days and it becomes virtually impossible to shield our little ones from worry.
So today I thought it might be useful to write about helping a child with anxiety about the risk of a traumatic event, whether that be a natural disaster or a man-made act like a terrorist threat.
As usual, communication is key. Spend time talking to your child and reassure him or her that it’s perfectly alright to ask questions – not just once but as often as they need to – particularly if the situation changes. You should answer their question briefly and honestly but also ask some questions of your own. Ask your child for his or her opinions and ideas on the subject too. It might turn out that what’s really worrying them is something seemingly trivial that you could answer straight away and put that particular fear to bed. Or it might be something specific that you couldn’t possibly have imagined.
For little ones you could follow a discussion like this with something soothing, like a favourite story or family activity.
Limit media exposure where possible.
Be a positive role model for how to handle stressful situations.
Where possible, maintain routines, house rules and positive behaviour expectations.
Reassure your child about work being done in the community to contain the threat, or deal with the aftermath of a traumatic event.
Monitor adult conversations to ensure that they are not being overheard and providing a further source of anxiety for your child.
Hope is a helpful emotion. Identify some positive aspect or belief to counter all that negativity and fear.
“I’m not afraid of storms, for I’m learning how to sail my ship.” ~ Louisa May Alcott
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