Supporting Your Children Through Scary Weather Events

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Parents and caregivers are a source of strength and support for their children to help them be resilient and recover from the storm. With support from family, community, and organizations most children will recover from these events over time. Some common reactions that you may see from your child after a hurricane or scary weather event include:

Increased anxiety and concerns related to storms and safety
Changes in behavior such as difficulty concentrating, being clingier than usual, difficulty expressing self and emotions
Complaints about physical ailments
Changes in school performance
Difficulty falling or staying asleep

The National Child Traumatic Stree Network has identified the following ways for parents and caregivers to support children including:

Model appropriate coping and problem-solving
Provide accurate information, and answer questions with age-appropriate details
Keep routines as much as possible
Monitor media and social media information that children are viewing
Seek additional help if behavioral changes or reactions worsen or persist after 6 weeks of the hurricane or scary weather event