Having a child who is terrified of storms can be hard, but it is important to help them through it. Below are some tips that you can try to make storm season a little easier for everyone involved.
1. Stay Calm – The most important thing you can do is remain calm. Children have fears of their own, but they also mimic what they see and feel so it is extremely important that you try to minimize your personal reaction to the weather. 2. Listen – Like other fears, a fear of storms can be caused simply by fearing the unknown. Sit down with your child and find out what it is they are afraid of. Listen to what they tell you and talk it out. Children need to be heard and seen to know their fears are important to you. 3. Reassurance – Reiterate to your child that not all storms lead to tornadoes. Explain to them that you are going to do everything you can to keep them safe. Hug them and assure them that their feelings are valid. 4. Emergency Plan – Have an emergency plan in order and include your child. Practicing tornado drills and helping you put together an emergency kit can give them a sense of control, instilling confidence in them. 5. Limit News Coverage – Obviously you need to be weather aware, but too much information can cause curious minds to become anxious. If visually seeing the weather alerts and radar doesn’t seem to help them, try to limit the amount they see/hear. 6. Read Books – Read age-appropriate books together about the weather. This not only helps inform them, but it creates a positive experience for them that they can refer to when they are thinking about storms. 7. Safe Place – Having a safe place to go during a tornado is so incredibly important, but even that alone can cause a child to be nervous. Make your shelter a comfortable place with blankets, pillows and stuffed animals.
You can’t use information and awareness to eliminate a fear, but you can absolutely use it to minimize a fear.
Don’t have a safe room to go to during a tornado? Just give us a call. Our shelters can be installed anywhere that you have a standard reinforced slab of at least four inches. Call us toll free at 855-552-7667 or 918-518-1551.
