Hurricane Katrina and Children's Fears

With the continuing media coverage of the tragic devastation by Hurricane Katrina, coupled with the unprecedented images of the suffering and horror of residents who were unable to evacuate, children are undoubtedly being traumatized by the ceaseless and continuing coverage of this catastrophe. As I've explained elswhere on this site, it is extremely difficult to reason away fears in young children, especially when the fears have been caused by vivid visual images on TV.

Based on my research and dealings with parents and children in these circumstances, here are my recommendations:

Limit children's exposure to TV - How TV communicates about these events is horrifying for children. Make interpersonal communication the main way they learn about what has happened and about the ongoing events that unfold as the world responds to this tragedy..

Be there for your children - Give your children extra attention and warmth. Answer their questions; be as reassuring as possible; your calming presence and caring attention are what they need most.

For very young children, recognize that "seeing is believing" -- vivid visual images and startling, emotional sounds affect them the most. To them, whatever they see on television is real, and it is happening while they are watching. What will upset them the most are visual images of dead bodies, homes being swept away in floods, and people suffering and crying out for help. And if the images are replayed again and again, the events will seem to be happening again and again. Preschoolers are unlikely to grasp the enormity of the tragedy. But gruesome images and horrified emotional expressions will unsettle them the most. The fearful or horrified reactions of their loved ones will also disturb them. Worse than the tsunami catastrophe which was extremely frightening to American children, our children will know that this event happened in the United States, and that it took a long time to rescue many of the survivors.

Young children will undoubtedly have worried questions about this catastrophe, and you may be at a loss as to how to handle them. Keep in mind that they are turning to you mainly for reassurance. You of course should not lie to them, but you can be helpful by finding the most reassuring way to phrase your answers. Your conversations about the hurricane should be tailored to the age and comprehension capabilities of your child. As I argued in my book, Mommy, I'm Scared, what works best for children in situations like this is the calm, unequivocal, limited truth. Say just enough so your response makes sense to your child. Don't feel that you have to inform your child about all the other things that might have happened or that could happen in the future.

Don't give your child any more than he or she is asking for or more than they need to know. Stress, in any way that you can, the fact that they and your family and friends are safe; that you and your family have plans for what to do in a natural disaster, that the people who lost their homes are now being helped, and that the government is working on plans to respond more quickly to events like these. Even if you yourself are horrified or worried, there is no advantage in having your child traumatized, miserable, and unable to sleep. What your child needs most is a way to feel secure.

I wrote my new children's book,Teddy's TV Troubles, for situations like this. It is a charming, calming picture book about a little bear who was scared by something he saw on TV. Together, he and his mother go through a series of fun, comforting activities, that help him get over his fears, and Teddy is able to go to sleep happy and reassured. It is meant to be read by a parent and child together in situations like this -- or in preparation disturbing news events to come. For more information on Teddy's TV Troubles.

Television: Make exposure to the upsetting content predictable. If you must interrupt scheduled programming with breaking news, don't do it with sirens and screams and vivid visual images; give parents time to change the channel, mute the sound, or get the children out of the room.

Restrain your instinct to repeat and repeat those same sensational images - none of us needs to see them again. Realize that for young children, you are showing them what they will experience as yet another event.

Newspapers : Keep your images of bloodied victims and dead bodies off the front page where young children will see them by accident! Tell your readers where to find them inside.

Parents: - Speak out and let the media know how you feel about the coverage. The media, of course, want the widest possible audience for their advertisers, but they are also sensitive to complaints.

or "Mommy, I'm Scared": How TV and Movies Frighten Children
and What We Can Do to Protect Them. (Harvest/Harcourt, 1998).

Teddy's TV Troubles, a children's book to help in coping with fears (Goblin Fern Press, 2004).