Helping Tamariki and Rangatahi Cope with Natural Disasters
Natural Disasters are events which are uncontrollable and induce a significant level of stress and disruption.
Children will look to the adults in their life for guidance when faced with an emergency. More than what you say, they will pick up on emotions, including fear, uncertainty and grief. Strong social support is linked to child resilience in the event of emergencies and natural disasters.
Adults can make disasters less traumatic for children by staying calm and letting the child know that they are there for them and in control.
Try to understand what is causing anxieties and fears. Be aware that following a disaster, children are most afraid that:
- The event will happen again
- They will be separated from the family
- They will be left alone
Some common reactions to disaster by age:
Below are some common physical and emotional reactions in children after a disaster or traumatic event.
Birth – 2 years
When children are pre-verbal and experience a trauma, they do not have the words to describe the event or their feelings. However, they can retain memories of sights, sounds, or smells. Infants may react to trauma by being irritable, crying more than usual, or wanting to be held and cuddled. As children get older, their play may involve acting out elements of the traumatic event that occurred several years in the past and was seemingly forgotten.
Preschool: 2 – 4 years
Preschool children might feel helpless and powerless in the face of an overwhelming event. Because of their age and small size, they might look to others to protect themselves or others. As a result, they might feel fear and insecurity. Preschool-aged children cannot grasp the concept of permanent loss. They see consequences as being reversible. In the weeks following a traumatic event, their play activities may involve aspects of the event. They may re-enact the incident or the disaster repeatedly.
School age: 5 – 10 years
School-age children could understand the permanence of loss. Some children become intensely preoccupied with the details of a traumatic event and want to talk about it continually. This preoccupation can interfere with the child's concentration at school and academic performance may decline. School-aged children may display a wide range of reactions - guilt, feelings of failure, anger that the event was not prevented, or fantasies of playing rescuer. They have more limited ability to emotionally process on their own and require additional support from family.
Pre-adolescence – Adolescent: 11 – 18 years
As children grow older, their responses begin to resemble adults' reaction to trauma. They combine some more childlike reactions with others that seem more consistent with adult reactions. Survival of trauma can be equated with a sense of immortality. A teenager could become involved in dangerous, risk-taking behaviour, such as reckless driving or alcohol or drug use. In contrast, a teenager could become fearful of leaving home. Much of adolescence is focused on moving out into the world. After a trauma, the world can seem dangerous and unsafe. A teenager may feel overwhelmed by intense emotions, and yet feel unable to discuss them with relatives.
Suggestions on how to support children and young people:
- Provide lots of emotional and physical support. Be physically available. Give lots of hugs, reassurance and support.
- Listen. To their words and what their body language is telling you. What do they need from you to feel safe or reassured?
- Time to express themselves. If they don’t have words, they might like to draw a picture, or express feelings through play.
- Allow them to ask questions. Let them know they can ask you questions about anything to do with the disaster. They might not have any questions, or it may take time for them to process the experience. Let them lead the conversation.
- Keep answers simple and at a level they can understand. Children can draw quite unexpected conclusions about what has happened, so it is important to be as honest and as factual as you can. Don’t overwhelm them with detail, but ensure they have enough information to allay any fears.
- Be Honest about your feelings. You don’t have to pretend the disaster doesn’t affect you but speak to them in a way appropriate to their age. ‘I was frightened too, but I feel much better now we are together.’
- Maintain family routines. As far as is possible. Make sure your child is receiving a balanced diet and enough rest. Be sure the bedtime routine includes safely tucking them in at night – or for older ones dropping by to say goodnight or be available for a chat about things. Some children or teens may want a night light again.
- Avoid unnecessary separations from important caregivers or supports. Making things as normal and as secure as possible will help.
- Expect temporary changes in behaviour. Children’s behaviour often regresses following a disaster. Some younger children may return to earlier behaviour patterns, such as bed wetting and separation anxiety. Older children may react to physical and emotional disruptions with aggression or withdrawal. Even children who have only indirect contact with the disaster may have unresolved feelings.
- In most cases, such responses are temporary. As time passes, symptoms usually ease. However, high winds, sirens or other reminders of the emotions associated with the disaster may cause anxiety to return.
- Manage the media. Avoid exposing your child to media or reminders of the trauma. If you do choose to have your child see information about the trauma, keep it brief and be with your child. It is important that you clarify questions or ensure that you can explain things that might be confusing or upsetting.
- Be aware of adult conversations. Limit their exposure to adult conversations about the events – particularly things that are worrying you. Even when you think they are not listening, they often are.
- Have fun. Try and find fun things to do together that are unrelated to the disaster.
- Be kind. Be kind to yourself and your children. Be as patient as you can and give your family time to find your rhythm again. Find ways to show and remind your children (of all ages) that you love them.
- Be empathetic. It can be hard to feel safe after a disaster. Offering reassurance, normalising their feelings, and validating their emotions. This can help children feel valued, supported and better able to navigate their emotions.