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Helping Children Deal with the Aftermath of a Natural Disaster

 (Published in Lifestyle Magazine, October 2004)

By Doris L. Omdahl, LMHC, RPT-S

Licensed Mental Health Counselor

Registered Play Therapist Supervisor

Natural disasters can leave behind chaos, destruction and material losses.  However the emotional impact of a natural disaster can be as powerful, or even more devastating that the physical destruction.  This impact affects adults as well as children.

During the preparation for, at the occurrence of, and in the aftermath of a natural disaster such as a hurricane, children are likely to experience fear and anxiety that manifests in periods of hyperactivity, lack of concentration, clinging to parents, and regression of learned behavior.  It is important to remember that those changes associated with the traumatic event are usually temporary.

Disasters are unforeseen, time limited, highly disruptive events that affect large groups of people.  Exposure to these chaotic events can negatively affect children of all ages.  Disasters are traumatic events.  

Emotional trauma is a normal response to an extreme event  It involves the development of memories about the distressful event that are stored deep within the brain.

 Children’s Reactions to a Traumatic Event

Children’s responses to a disaster are influenced by:

1-   Their exposure:  the more direct the exposure to the traumatic event, the higher the risk for emotional harm. (physical proximity and emotional proximity)

2-   Their developmental stage

3-   The reactions of significant others

4-   The available support system

5-   The child’s past traumatic experiences

6-   The child’s coping strategies

7-   The child’s intellectual capacity, temperament and personality 

Common reactions after a traumatic event such as a natural disaster

Elementary School Children: Irritability, aggressive or disruptive behavior, clinginess, school avoidance, poor concentration, withdrawal from activities and friends, increased conflict with peers, sleeping difficulties, depression, anxiety.

Young Adolescents: Poor school performance, physical complaints without illness, withdrawal from friends, sleep disturbance, loss of appetite, conflict between parents and child.

Older Adolescents: agitation, lack of energy, lessened interest in peers, physical complaints (headache, stomachache), poor concentration, delinquent behavior, sleep disturbance, eating disturbance, flashbacks, feelings of guilt, depression
Helping Children after a Natural Disaster

What can parents do to help their children?

          Be extra patient

          Don’t ignore the child

          Explain the episode as well as you can

          Encourage the child to express his feelings

          Don’t overlook the feelings of children; they need to feel that they can count on you for extra support

          Listen to the child without judging

          Do not force discussion of the traumatic event

          Let the child know that it is normal to be upset at this time

          Return to the old routine; this will reassure the child

          Try to have nourishing meals, for energy

          Reassure the child that you will take care of him

          If afraid to sleep in his bed, let him sleep with a light on for a limited time

          Reassure the child that the traumatic event was not his fault

          Allow the child to cry or to be sad

          Encourage the child to feel in control; let him make some decisions about food, clothes, etc.

          Encourage the child to discuss his experience (verbal, and non verbal, such as drawings, painting, play-dough)

          Teach and model coping and problem solving skills; be willing to “tell your story”.  This will help reduce the stress

          Emphasize the child’s resiliency

          Encourage child’s friendships 

Children’s responses to a Natural Disaster can range from normal stress reactions, to mental disorders.  Most children, if given support and encouragement, will recover from the anxiety caused by the traumatic event, within a few weeks.  Some children will need more help over a longer period of time.  If the child shows   avoidance behavior, emotional numbing, or lack of feeling toward the event, he might need the assistance of a Mental Health Counselor..