Children are naturally resilient, but even they can feel overwhelmed during a crisis. Whether it’s a natural disaster, a pandemic, or family instability, times of uncertainty can create confusion, fear, and emotional distress for children. As caregivers, parents, educators, or loved ones, it’s important to support their emotional, mental, and physical well-being. But with the right guidance and support, they can learn to work through tumultuous situations.
Helping Children Cope During & After A Crisis
1. Set A Schedule
Decide what kind of schedule you can try to stick to even given the uncertainty. If a kid isn’t going to school, perhaps the schedule looks like breakfast at the same time, park playdate, read, lunch, homework, and then watching tv. Keeping consistency can be helpful, but only stick to a schedule that seems feasible.
2. Kids Sense Emotion
Kids pick up on emotions in the house, and don’t know how to process it because they may not have the language to appropriately express their emotions; their worry may look like dysregulation instead. Knowing this can help keep parents calm in times of chaos, and help kids process what’s going on.
3. Talking About The Event
If your children overhear you talking about an emotionally triggering event, like the wildfires, check in with them and say “You may have heard that we were just talking about the fires. Do you have any questions?”
If you’re affected by the wildfires in Southern California, this can cause your children’s feelings of safety and stability to be compromised. This is likely an extremely confusing and distressing time for everyone, however, children process crises differently than adults and can be worried that imaginary fears will come true, leaving them especially vulnerable. Wildfires, with their sensory overload—bright flames, dense smoke, evacuations—can amplify these emotions. It’s important to remember that kids are resilient, and will adjust.
Right now, kids might not be able to go outside or may need to wear masks, so it’s important to prioritize their safety to determine if they can go outside. PurpleAir is a community-based system of sensors that measure and share air quality data so you can check what the air quality is like in your area.
How To Recognize That A Child Needs Help
Since not all children will openly express their feelings, they may show signs through their behavior. Watch out for indicators such as:
- Frequent nightmares or trouble sleeping.
- Changes in appetite.
- Sudden mood swings or increased irritability.
- Difficulty concentrating.
- Withdrawal from friends or family.
- Physical symptoms like headaches or stomachaches.
If these signs persist for more than a month, seek out professional help to ensure your child gets the help they need.
When To Seek Professional Help
If the above behavioral issues continue for a prolonged period, it’s probably best to seek out professional help to ensure your child gets the therapy they need. At Clarity, we use Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to help children with emotional regulation, problem-solving skills, and other techniques so they can process their emotions. Children are remarkably resilient when given the right tools and support, and our therapists are here to help your children manage their emotions and behaviors during a crisis. Contact us to schedule a free consultation.
