Children and disasters is a tough topic to address. But children’s ministry workers must be prepared to assist kids and families. Use these tips to minister after a natural disaster or any type of tragedy.
I grew up in Tornado Alley. My great-grandmother was once blown through the air by a funnel cloud and thankfully survived. As a child, I would crouch in fear as a tornado roared above our house. A tornado recently devastated the small town where my father pastors and took the lives of some of his church members.
When disaster strikes nearby, kids feel scared and uncertain. But they also might worry about disasters elsewhere in the country and world.
Children and Disasters: How To Help
Share these handy tips with parents, Sunday school teachers, and church staff:
1. Know where children are coming from.
First realize that kids usually personalize things. Will this happen to me? Is my house going to be destroyed? Will someone in my family be injured or killed? Am I going to lose all my belongings?
2. Be aware of different personality types.
Next up: Some children are more prone to being sensitive and fearful. Others won’t pay as much attention to what’s going on. By knowing the child’s personality, you can more effectively help them.
3. Observe how the child is reacting.
Disaster can strike quickly and without warning. The experience is frightening for adults and traumatic for children. Families may be forced out of their homes or normal lives. They can become anxious, confused, and frightened.
The National Association of School Psychologists identified reactions that can occur when children face a disaster:
- Preschoolers—thumb-sucking, bed-wetting, clinging to parents, sleep disturbances, loss of appetite, fear of the dark, regression in behavior, withdrawal from friends and routines
- Elementary School Children—irritability, aggressiveness, clinginess, nightmares, school avoidance, poor concentration, withdrawal from activities and friends
- Adolescents—sleeping and eating disturbances, agitation, increase in conflicts, physical complaints, delinquent behavior, poor concentration
4. Respond to the child’s reaction.
Acknowledge their reaction. Accept it and empathize. If kids are crying, it’s okay to cry with them. If they’re angry, let them know you understand how they must be feeling.
5. Be sensitive to children and their experiences.
Some kids have faced a stressful situation: divorce, death of a family member, disaster. Reassure them that disasters are rare and that kids are very safe in their homes.
6. Protect kids from overexposure.
Limit news of the disaster through images on TV, the internet, or other media sources.
7. Remember that children watch how you respond.
If kids sense that you’re stressed, fearful, or anxious, they’ll pick up on it and mirror that. So remain as calm as possible.
8. Have open conversations.
Ask age-appropriate questions and listen. For example: What did you hear? Do you know what’s going on? Why are you worried? Let kids express their feelings, concerns, and fears. Verbalizing what they’re feeling helps them begin to process it. If the child doesn’t want to verbally communicate, encourage them to write down or draw what they’re feeling.
Note: For kids younger than 7, it’s often best not to initiate a conversation about a disaster unless they become aware of it and bring it up. Answer questions calmly, clearly, and honestly, but don’t go into details.
