How do you prepare your children for a hurricane approaching

[beachbum_al]

I don't know how many of us here have young children but I was just wondering how do you prepare them for an approaching hurricane to your area.

Do you tell them what is going on?

Do you just tell them that a big storm is coming but everything will be okay?

Do you just keep them in the dark if possible?

I have a 2 (almost 3), a 4, and 6 (almost 7) year olds. The 6 year old knows what is going on. They had the counselor talk after Ivan hit this area. Especially L because her aunt lives in Pensacola area. Plus she saw first hand in Orange Beach what happen when we went down there to see her grandparents after the storm.

When Dennis was coming I know that my two youngest knew something was going on because they acted so differently. I did try to take them online to some sites...one being the one where the hurricane hunters take you through their job and another site that FEMA has put up.

So all of your advice and suggestion would be welcome!

[gkrangers]

Move away from the coast.

[beachbum_al]

I love it here and I don't think my girls would agree about moving away from here. They love it too!

[wx247]

Here is a link that might be of some use to you!!!

http://www.naspcenter.org/safe_schools/coping.html

[beachbum_al]

Here is a link that might be of some use to you!!!

http://www.naspcenter.org/safe_schools/coping.html

Thanks for the link! I will read it.

[micktooth]

I have 2 kids, 12 and 9. My 9yo has special needs. We kind of make a game of it. Obviously, my 12yo knows what's happening. We talk about a big storm that might be comming. We try not to look scared as kids will pick up on that. When we evacuated for Ivan and Georges, we just told them the big storm was comming and we might not be able to watch tv for a few days. We never really talked about the New Orleans worst case scenario, although my 12yo is really "in to it now". My 9yo daughter knows there is a "big bad " out there now. BTW, my 9yo daughter's name is Emily! She is patiently awaiting the next storm, Franklin the turtle!

[wx247]

It doesn't get real in-depth with before the storm though. I couldn't find any info. on that. But maybe it will provide you with some guidance.

[beachbum_al]

WX you just help me in more than one way with that link! You don't know how much I appreciate it!

[cinlfla]

My 8 year old son is now terrified of storms (period) including your average afternoon thunderstorm. This kid physically shuts down I tried to educate him as much as I could but it seems the more he knows the more he is afraid I don't know how you would prepare a child I wish I knew. I will say this, having people on the board like Floydbuster is great!! my son loves to watch his forecast

[rtd2]

I dont have to do anything..As soon as They hear on the news there is a system out there they Immediatly say "Were going to have a hurricane" ALL the neigborhood kids say...it....I just try to reassure them that we have keep an eye on it but is not a threat 1,500 miles out!

[NativeFloridaGirl]

[url]http://www.redcross.org/pubs/dspubs/childmatls.html#hurricane

The redcorss has coloring books and a video for your childrens age grouup that you might find helpful also.

(I've never posted a link before, so I have no idea if I did it right! If not can someone help? Thanks!!)

~Beth~[/url]

[wx247]

http://www.redcross.org/pubs/dspubs/childmatls.html#hurricane

The redcorss has coloring books and a video for your childrens age grouup that you might find helpful also.

(I've never posted a link before, so I have no idea if I did it right! If not can someone help? Thanks!!)

~Beth~

I fixed it for you in my quote!!! Now just click on the link.

[NativeFloridaGirl]

Thanks!!! I knew I was going to mess that up!

~Beth~

[knotimpaired]

I may differ with some on this issue.

After living within a block of the Intracoastal in Florida with my daughter who is and will always remain the most important person in my life, I needed her to understand one thing. The nature of a storm and if something happens to Mom you need to be able to dial 911 or a family member.

If you sugar coat it what does the child do when an emergency arrives?

[beachbum_al]

I may differ with some on this issue.

After living within a block of the Intracoastal in Florida with my daughter who is and will always remain the most important person in my life, I needed her to understand one thing. The nature of a storm and if something happens to Mom you need to be able to dial 911 or a family member.

If you sugar coat it what does the child do when an emergency arrives?

I agree with the last part of that reply. For any type of emergency! My six year old knows what to do. She has to since my husband is a diabetic and I have a chronic disease. So she knows about dialing 911 and where she lives.

[beachbum_al]

http://www.fema.gov/kids/hurr.htm

http://www.hurricanehunters.com/

Here are the two sites that I mention in the beginning (I think I mention them in the beginning.)

[Pebbles]

I'd like to share our situation in hopes it may be helpful. We've recently and are going through a high level stress situation with our kids that has become a quite a parental learning experience. Unfortunately kids deal with more stress then we usually realize. Many times we get very protective and try to 'hide' out children from the stresses rather then teaching 'coping' mechanisms for them. A normal reaction cause we love them and it's painful to see them hurting. On the other hand with smaller children sometimes we give them TOO much information that is too complicated for them to absorb and may actually add to the stress instead of helping them work it out. Our stress has been the death of a family member in the household, but am learning that the same coping skills are useful whether it's a major event or what most consider more minor events in day to day life.

I've learned with my kids (12,5,1) that kids react very different to stresses because of different levels of comprehension effects how they cope with them. My 12 year old is old enough to focus internally on whatever it is and will 'talk' it out.. so we let her know all the people around her that love her so that the feels free to talk to whoever she needs to and if that's not me for one reason or another that's fine. My 5 year old on the other hand deals with large stresses only 5 minutes at a time. It's simply too overwhelming so her little brain has to break it down into manageable bits. And we allow her to do that supporting the best that we can and then let her go on her merry way. And abstract thinking doesn't work with her (the storm is 1500 miles away is incomprehensible. But a picture of the WHOLE earth, not just the gulf, with a finger pointed at your location and finger at where the storm is can be be useful... that tells the young mind it is FAR away) Both reactions are very typical of the age/comprehension level.

I don't know why there isn't more out there on how to teach your kids to work with stress. Unfortunately most info deals with death situations, but if you look at these articles and take the actual stress dealing tactics from them they can be converted to be used for other situations. They can be a valuable tool for you and your children and give an insight into how to best help them learn needed life skills.

We all deal with situations that we can't control. Our coping is to control what aspect of it we can and work from there. Same for kids, and there is an amazing amount kids can do. Let them make their own hurricane kit for example. There is a thread on this in the hurricane prep forum. Give them tasks that allow them to feel they are effecting what they can so they are proactive in the environment around them. Allow them to bring up any concerns... even if it's at an inconvenient time.. stopping to address them even for a moment or two can make a difference.

Expect young children to maybe only ask a questions and then run off to play to 'absorb' the information you just shared with them. But keep the answers simple!! And don't offer more of an answer then they were looking for (I was horrid on usually giving TOO much information thinking it was reassuring.. when in all reality if she required more she had no problem coming and asking for more). If you really listen to young ones they seem to focus on very different aspects then adults.. very detailed minor stuff that may seem sidetracked... but as they work through it they actually build the whole picture over time like a puzzle. The other big question I learned was TO ask more of a leading type of question... such as "Is something bothering you?" or "You seem sad/to be thinking hard... do you have a question?" instead of "is such and such bothering you?" So that they can bring it up and lead the conversation instead of me.

Will stop now.. sorry for such a long post.. but hope it helps a bit.

[Persepone]

...
We all deal with situations that we can't control. Our coping is to control what aspect of it we can and work from there. Same for kids, and there is an amazing amount kids can do. Let them make their own hurricane kit for example. There is a thread on this in the hurricane prep forum. Give them tasks that allow them to feel they are effecting what they can so they are proactive in the environment around them. Allow them to bring up any concerns... even if it's at an inconvenient time.. stopping to address them even for a moment or two can make a difference.

Expect young children to maybe only ask a questions and then run off to play to 'absorb' the information you just shared with them. But keep the answers simple!! And don't offer more of an answer then they were looking for (I was horrid on usually giving TOO much information thinking it was reassuring.. when in all reality if she required more she had no problem coming and asking for more). If you really listen to young ones they seem to focus on very different aspects then adults.. very detailed minor stuff that may seem sidetracked... but as they work through it they actually build the whole picture over time like a puzzle. The other big question I learned was TO ask more of a leading type of question... such as "Is something bothering you?" or "You seem sad/to be thinking hard... do you have a question?" instead of "is such and such bothering you?" So that they can bring it up and lead the conversation instead of me....

I would agree that explaining what is happening from the beginning (and, depending upon the ages either showing them the picture of the whole earth with the location of the hurricane or perhaps providing hurricane tracking maps and some highlighters, etc.) will help them as will packing their own hurricane kits, evacuation knapsacks, etc. Make them part of your preparations and explain (again, depending upon children's ages) what you are doing to keep them safe.

Young children will pick up on your nervousness, preoccupations, etc. Older ones will hear about the hurricane in the neighborhood, etc. And of course children who have seen the aftermath of one know only too well what can happen. But if you do/have done what you need to to keep them safe, they will understand this also. It is better to face the situation openly and frankly and answer questions, etc. than it is to try and hide what is going on from children--even very young ones.

I especially agree with the comment that you should let the child tell you what is bothering them rather than guessing! They may be bothered about something that has a definite and reassuring answer. [A silly example may be a child who wonders who will board up grandma's windows for the storm since she lives alone--but if the grandma lives in Wyoming, there is an easy and reassuring answer. But children do have fears like that... and if their questions go unanswered, they really do worry. They worry about things like what happens to the animals in the zoo, for example... You can reassure them without making promises... but this also provides an opportunity to talk to them about what is important in the grand scheme of things. And in the end they can agree that it is not being able to watch TV for a week...

[Pebbles]

I especially agree with the comment that you should let the child tell you what is bothering them rather than guessing! They may be bothered about something that has a definite and reassuring answer. [A silly example may be a child who wonders who will board up grandma's windows for the storm since she lives alone--but if the grandma lives in Wyoming, there is an easy and reassuring answer. But children do have fears like that... and if their questions go unanswered, they really do worry. They worry about things like what happens to the animals in the zoo, for example... You can reassure them without making promises... but this also provides an opportunity to talk to them about what is important in the grand scheme of things. And in the end they can agree that it is not being able to watch TV for a week...

great example... my rule of thumb for for how to ask is if it can be answered with a yes or no... you need to change the question. You want them to tell you what the problem and talk rather then just say yes/no when you ask if something is bothering them. So I kinda broke my own rule a little in my post.. "is something bothering you" should probably be reworded LOL. But hey it's a work in progress *winks*

[Hurricaneman]

Well thats a way to look at it when it comes to kids