Help Children Cope

Helping Children Cope With Disasters (based on Red Cross info)

Disasters associated with the pole shift will strike quickly and without warning. These events are frightening and traumatic for both children and adults. In order to survive the disasters, you and your family will more than likely have to leave your home or at least modify it for survival. Your daily routines and lifestyles will also be changed dramatically after the pole shift. There will be much destruction, death and injuries that are typically associated with major multiple disasters.. Thus, you and your children are apt to be anxious, confused and frightened.

Yet, as an adult, you will need to cope with these disasters in such a way that will enable your children to cope effectively. This is because children tend to look to the adults around them for help. How you react will influence how they react. The following is some suggestions on how to help both you and your children cope with these disasters. For example, if you are hysterical, they may become even more hysterical because they see that:

1. a real danger has occurred and
2. you are out of control.

Thus, if possible, provide some level of reassurance. Also, be honest with the child(ren). Explain the situation as you see it and enlist their assistance. Children have wonderful imaginations and are very creative. Utilize these resources - they could be vital. By utilizing a child's creativity, you are forcing him/her to focus on what has to be done - otherwise, their idle imaginations may invent a much worse situation.

Preparation is a big help also. Enlist the child in planning the family's pole shift disaster plan. If the child is somewhat prepared for what is about to happen, it will be easier to cope with the resulting disaster.

According to the Red Cross, that after a disaster, children are most afraid that-

• the event will happen again.
• someone will be injured or killed.
• they will be separated from the family.
• they will be left alone.

Unfortunately, many children will be separated from their families and will be alone. Many of their loved ones will be killed. As a survivor, you may come across these children. The best thing to do is to care for them as if they were your own - after all, should your children became separated from you, you would want someone to care for them. These children will need your reassurance that you will do everything you can to help them survive and possibly locate their families. Keep all children with you at all times. This will help reduce their fear and anxiety by knowing that they are not going to be abandoned. Also, calmly and firmly explain the situation as best you can. Get down to their eye level when you talk to them. Encourage them to talk and describe what they are feeling.

Offered by Lyn.