Supporting children through fears of natural disaster

Hello Families,

With the arrival of Cyclone Alfred and the uncertainty it brings, it is natural for children to feel anxious or scared about the potential impact of the Cyclone and storm. As a school community, we want to offer guidance on how to support our children through these fears, and ensure they feel safe, heard, and understood during this time.

Understanding Children’s Fears

Children often process natural disasters, like cyclones, through their emotions rather than logic. They may not fully understand the severity of the situation, but they can still feel overwhelmed by the images they see on the news, the additional groceries you buy, the change in routine and the conversations they overhear. For many, this uncertainty can lead to heightened anxiety. It’s important to acknowledge these feelings and provide reassurance, while also helping children process their emotions in healthy ways.

How to Support Your Child

• Maintain a sense of routine and predictability:
  Routines help children feel secure. During times of uncertainty, try to keep daily activities like mealtimes, schoolwork, and bedtime consistent. This sense of normalcy can help mitigate feelings of chaos and instability.
• Encourage open communication:
  Let your child express their feelings and thoughts about the cyclone. Listen actively without dismissing their fears. It’s normal for children to feel scared, and your validation of their emotions will help them feel supported. Answer their questions calmly and honestly, keeping in mind their developmental age and understanding.
• Reassure them about safety:
  Let your child know that measures are in place to keep them safe. Explain the steps being taken by authorities to prepare for the storm, such as evacuations and emergency services. This can help them feel a sense of control over the situation.
• Limit exposure to distressing media:
  Avoid exposing your child to constant news updates or frightening images of the cyclone. This can increase their anxiety and make the situation feel worse than it is. Instead, focus on calm, reassuring conversations about what is happening.
• Encourage relaxation techniques:
  If your child seems particularly anxious, teach them simple relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, counting, or visualization. These can help manage the physiological symptoms of fear, such as a racing heart or stomach discomfort. A distraction game which is good for the family is the A-Z game. Taking turns looking around to find an object that starts with A, then B, then C etc.

Recommended Resources for Support

• The Biride Resource - Birdie and the Cyclone
  Queensland Health provides a resource called The Biride, which is designed to help children understand and cope with their emotions during stressful events such as natural disasters.
• Illume Learning: Social Story about Cyclones

This social story is a simple, short story that explains what a cyclone is and what happens for children understand what to expect and how to respond. It uses clear language and often includes pictures to guide and reassure children.

• Strategies for supporting the mental health of infants and children after a disaster: Child-Adult relationships

Following natural disaster, it is common for children to experience separation anxiety. This article highlights the importance of strong child-adult relationships in supporting children's mental health, especially during and after disasters. Caregivers' emotional responses play a key role in how children cope. Consistent support from trusted adults helps children feel safe and resilient.

While the uncertainty brought by Cyclone Alfred can cause stress for both children and adults, we are confident that by staying calm, maintaining routines, and offering reassurance, we can help our children navigate through this difficult time. Always remember that it’s okay to ask for help if you need it—whether that’s talking to a mental health professional or seeking further resources.

Charlotte | Student Wellbeing Program - Psychologist

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Issue 2 of Book Club has now gone home, orders due back by Monday 24 March.