As a parent or carer, you may feel worried about the impact that natural disasters may have on your child. There are several excellent resources available.

The MacKillop Institute have developed some practical tips to help you support children in your care. Children and young people will likely benefit from:

Safety

Children need to feel the protection and comfort of their parents or other familiar caregivers. Your child may wish to be held, hugged, physically close to you. Remind them they are loved, important and safe, especially if they are in an unfamiliar environment. Let them know that other adults are doing everything they can to keep them safe.

Calm

Try to respond as calmly as possible to your child’s reactions. Try to avoid your child overhearing other people’s distressed conversations or repeated media reporting. Share with them something you do to calm down when you feel stressed (such as taking some slow, deep breaths).

Communication 

Explain what has happened and, if possible, what will happen next. Answer any questions simply, honestly and clearly, but don’t add any unnecessary or graphic details. Allow your child the chance to talk - which might sometimes be recounting aspects of what happened or wondering out loud about things that may not seem so important or urgent. Give them space to cry and share their worries, sadness and fears. It may be helpful to let your child know you notice and are available by saying something like, ‘It’s been a tough time for us lately. Can you think of anything that might help you right now’?  Don’t panic if you get upset, it is okay to cry together. Acknowledging that sadness and loss are shared is an important part of the healing process. 

Hope

Share with your children the acts of bravery, generosity and kindness that others have shown towards you and others impacted by the disaster. It gives us comfort and hope to know that others care and are offering support in many different ways.

Contributing

Showing care for others can be empowering and healing. Invite your child to think of ways to help others in similar or worse situations.

Time

Children need love, reassurance, patience, care and time to recover from natural disasters, as do adults. Be mindful of their on-going needs and reactions, and of the important things in life, even once you become busy with rebuilding your lives. Try to find time and space for important conversations about further changes, such as temporary accommodation, the rebuild, or moving communities.

You

Take care of yourself as best you can, so that you are able to support yourself and your family throughout this difficult time. Once the initial crisis is over, ask for any support you may need. Share the burdens and challenges with a trusted friend or family member, find some time for yourself, and celebrate the small milestones on the journey back to your new ‘normal’.

Click here to download the helpful factsheet or visit the The MacKillop Institute Stormbirds Program website.

The Australian Psychological Society has developed a factsheet Helping children who have been affected by floods. Information for parents and caregivers.

The headspace website has a section supporting a young person after a natural disaster.

If you have older students affected by a natural disaster headspace has a page on their website, headspace has a page on their website.