While some members of our community have been personally affected by the flooding already, the rest of us wait with apprehension to see what the next few weeks bring.
The uncertainty around the flooding may cause stress and anxiety in children and adults alike. Sandbags and flood barriers serve as reminders about the threat of flooding. Students may overhear adults talking, and discuss news and rumors with their friends.
Children look to the adults around them to make sense of what is happening. Staying calm and maintaining normalcy to the extent that it is possible is important. Below are some tips for helping your child at home during this uncertain time.
- Remain calm and reassuring. Children will take their cues from you, especially young children.
- Be optimistic. Let children know that if flooding does occur in your area, most people will be fine physically and will recover from any emotional reactions to the event.
- Discuss events in age-appropriate terms. Share information that is appropriate to their age and developmental level. Update them as information changes. Young children may require repeated reassurance during the day.
- Stick to the facts. Answer children’s questions factually and include a positive element to answer. Don’t speculate about what could happen.
- Avoid having adult discussions in front of children. Do not assume that they do not understand what you are talking about; they may fill in the gaps with assumptions that are more upsetting than the reality.
- Provide information about changes at home in a matter-of-fact manner (e.g. sandbags or flood barriers at home or nearby, stocking up on food and water).
- Limit the amount of TV news children are exposed to with scenes of devastation and distress. Watching upsetting images over and over again is traumatic.
- Consider using the Internet to get news and information so that you can control the news you read, rather than being at the mercy of the television news cycle.
- Encourage children to talk to you or another caring adult. Emphasize that you are there to help and that they should let an adult know if they or a friend feels overwhelmed or worried for any reason.
In times of stress, it is important to do things that increase one’s resilience so that one is able to cope, make good decisions, and support loved ones. These include:
- Eating nutritious food
- Getting enough sleep
- Exercising
- Staying in touch with friends and family
- Maintaining routines as much as possible
There are many resources on the Internet about helping children deal with national disasters. Below are a few that we think are relevant to our current situation.
Recognizing stress in children
Strategies to help children deal with stress
Information about stress and how to cope with it from the American Psychological Association
Our earlier blogs post entitled Ten Tips for Helping Children Cope in Unsettling Times may also be helpful.
There is no right way to feel in a situation like this. It is important that we remember to take care of ourselves and be sensitive to the needs and experiences of others.
The counselors and school psychologists at ISB are available to talk with parents and students. There are also a number of counselors in the community who are available to see families. Please refer to the ISB referral list or contact a counselor or school psychologist for a referral.
