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  • Helping Children Cope with Emergencies

     
    A boy with a hearing aid, hugging his father.

    Regardless of your child’s age, he or she may feel upset or have other strong emotions after an emergency. Some children react right away, while others may show signs of difficulty much later. How a child reacts and the common signs of distress can vary according to the child’s age, previous experiences, and how the child typically copes with stress.

    Children react, in part, on what they see from the adults around them. When parents and caregivers deal with a disaster calmly and confidently, they can provide the best support for their children. Parents can be more reassuring to others around them, especially children, if they are better prepared.

    People can become more distressed if they see repeated images of a disaster in the media. Early on, consider limiting the amount of exposure you and your loved ones get to media coverage.

    Factors that Influence the Emotional Impact on Children in Emergencies

    The following tips can help reduce stress before, during, and after a disaster or traumatic event.

    Before
    • Talk to your children so that they know you are prepared to keep them safe.
    • Review safety plans before a disaster or emergency happens. Having a plan will increase your children’s confidence and help give them a sense of control.
    During
    • Stay calm and reassure your children.
    • Talk to children about what is happening in a way that they can understand.   Keep it simple and appropriate for each child’s age.
    After
    • Provide children with opportunities to talk about what they went through or what they think about it. Encourage them to share concerns and ask questions.
    • For 7 to 10 year olds

      Older children may feel sad, mad, or afraid that the event will happen again. Peers may share false information; however, parents or caregivers can correct the misinformation. Older children may focus on details of the event and want to talk about it all the time or not want to talk about it at all. They may have trouble concentrating.

      For preteens and teenagers

      Some preteens and teenagers respond to trauma by acting out. This could include reckless driving, and alcohol or drug use. Others may become afraid to leave the home. They may cut back on how much time they spend with their friends. They can feel overwhelmed by their intense emotions and feel unable to talk about them. Their emotions may lead to increased arguing and even fighting with siblings, parents/caregivers or other adults.

    • For special needs children
      They might have more intense distress, worry or anger than children without special needs because they have less control over day-to-day well-being than other people. The same is true for children with other physical, emotional, or intellectual limitations. Children with special needs may need extra words of reassurance, more explanations about the event, and more comfort and other positive physical contact such as hugs from loved ones.

     

    Talking with children about Coronavirus Disease 2019: Messages for parents, school staff, and others working with children

    As public conversations around coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) increase, children may worry about themselves, their family, and friends getting ill with COVID-19. Parents, family members, school staff, and other trusted adults can play an important role in helping children make sense of what they hear in a way that is honest, accurate, and minimizes anxiety or fear. CDC has created guidance to help adults have conversations with children about COVID-19 and ways they can avoid getting and spreading the disease.

     
    General principles for talking to children

    Remain calm and reassuring.

    • Remember that children will react to both what you say and how you say it. They will pick up cues from the conversations you have with them and with others.

    Make yourself available to listen and to talk.

    • Make time to talk. Be sure children know they can come to you when they have questions.

    Avoid language that might blame others and lead to stigma.

    • Remember that viruses can make anyone sick, regardless of a person’s race or ethnicity. Avoid making assumptions about who might have COVID-19.

    Pay attention to what children see or hear on television, radio, or online.

    • Consider reducing the amount of screen time focused on COVID-19. Too much information on one topic can lead to anxiety.

    Provide information that is honest and accurate.

    • Give children information that is truthful and appropriate for the age and developmental level of the child.
    • Talk to children about how some stories on COVID-19 on the Internet and social media may be based on rumors and inaccurate information.

    Teach children everyday actions to reduce the spread of germs.

    • Remind children to stay away from people who are coughing or sneezing or sick.
    • Remind them to cough or sneeze into a tissue or their elbow, then throw the tissue into the trash.
    • Discuss any new actions that may be taken at school to help protect children and school staff.
      (e.g., increased handwashing, cancellation of events or activities)
    • Get children into a handwashing habit.
      • Teach them to wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing their nose, coughing, or sneezing; going to the bathroom; and before eating or preparing food.
      • If soap and water are not available, teach them to use hand sanitizer. Hand sanitizer should contain at least 60% alcohol. Supervise young children when they use hand sanitizer to prevent swallowing alcohol, especially in schools and childcare facilities.
     
    Facts about COVID-19 for discussions with children

    Try to keep information simple and remind them that health and school officials are working hard to keep everyone safe and healthy.

    What is COVID-19?

    • COVID-19 is the short name for “coronavirus disease 2019.” It is a new virus. Doctors and scientists are still learning about it.
    • Recently, this virus has made a lot of people sick. Scientists and doctors think that most people will be ok, especially kids, but some people might get pretty sick.
    • Doctors and health experts are working hard to help people stay healthy.

    What can I do so that I don’t get COVID-19?

    • You can practice healthy habits at home, school, and play to help protect against the spread of COVID-19:
      • Cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow. If you sneeze or cough into a tissue, throw it in the trash right away.
      • Keep your hands out of your mouth, nose, and eyes. This will help keep germs out of your body.
      • Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Follow these five steps—wet, lather (make bubbles), scrub (rub together), rinse and dry. You can sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice.
      • If you don’t have soap and water, have an adult help you use a special hand cleaner.
      • Keep things clean. Older children can help adults at home and school clean the things we touch the most, like desks, doorknobs, light switches, and remote controls. (Note for adults: you can find more information about cleaning and disinfecting on CDC’s website.)
      • If you feel sick, stay home. Just like you don’t want to get other people’s germs in your body, other people don’t want to get your germs either.

    What happens if you get sick with COVID-19?

    • COVID-19 can look different in different people. For many people, being sick with COVID-19 would be a little bit like having the flu. People can get a fever, cough, or have a hard time taking deep breaths. Most people who have gotten COVID-19 have not gotten very sick. Only a small group of people who get it have had more serious problems. From what doctors have seen so far, most children don’t seem to get very sick. While a lot of adults get sick, most adults get better.
    • If you do get sick, it doesn’t mean you have COVID-19. People can get sick from all kinds of germs. What’s important to remember is that if you do get sick, the adults at home and school will help get you any help that you need.
    • If you suspect your child may have COVID-19, call the healthcare facility to let them know before you bring your child in to see them.
     
     
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