Helping your child cope

A hurricane can be a very traumatic event for your child. As you
and your family are dealing with the aftermath of the hurricane, your
child may have some difficulty coping with the changes to their
environment.

Here are a few tips on helping your child through the stressful time:

Focus on being supportive and calm.
Especially during times of stress, children will mirror the emotions of their parents. The more stressed you are, the more likely your child will feel the pressure. Regularly remind them that they are loved.

Establish a regular routine.
As soon as possible, try to get your family back on a schedule. This will help create a sense of order in what may feel like a very chaotic time to your child.

Find activities to do together.
Create or find activities where your child can release some energy. This will also help you and your child to sleep better.

Schedule childcare activities.
Try to schedule some childcare time periodically so that you can handle with other important issues such as calling the insurance company or the family doctor. This will help you to stay more positive and focused when your children are with you.

Monitor the media your child watches.
Try to avoid exposing your child to too many images of the disaster. If you do watch or listen to media coverage, do it together. Talk to them about what they see. Remind them that they are safe.

Get more tips for parents of younger children, school age children, and adolescents.