Talking to Your Child About
Hurricane Katrina

By Jay E. Berkelhamer, M.D. ,
Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

Hurricane Katrina resulted in the devastation of entire cities in Louisiana and Mississippi. However, physical devastation is not the only consequence of such a tragedy. Emotional and psychological trauma is very common, especially in children. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), children are often affected by a disaster in a variety of ways, including the death or injury of a loved one, loss of possessions or family dwelling, relocation and/or school changes, job loss and parental disorganization or dysfunction. Many of these sudden changes can have a serious effect on the child and cause emotional distress.

Children who are not directly affected by the tragedy may also experience psychological trauma. Signs that a child is having problems dealing with a tragedy, such as Hurricane Katrina, are varied and may include:

• Fear of being away from parent(s)
• Behavior changes, such as going back to younger behaviors. For example, thumb sucking, wetting the bed, sleep problems, temper tantrums, clinging to parents or
• fear of darkness
• Crying
• Difficulty concentrating
• Not taking part in normal activities
• Feelings of guilt
• Fear for own safety
• Fear of death
• Does not want to attend school
• Physical complaints, such as headaches and stomachaches
  

Parents should take an active role in helping children identify and deal with these issues. However, the AAP recommends that parents first deal with their own fears and needs related to the trauma, so that they can be better able to help their children cope. Children’s advises parents to help their children cope and minimize traumatic effects using the following methods:

• Be prepared and able to answer questions
• Limit the amount of television and radio your child is exposed to
• Explain the situation and answer questions honestly
• Urge your child to tell a story, draw a picture or play with puppets to learn about their concerns, fears and understanding
• Talk about safety and what is being done to protect your child
• Provide comfort by holding or rocking
• Tell your child that these feelings are normal
• Keep to a normal daily routine
• Spend time together as a family
• Let your child know that it is okay to cry
• Be aware of how you respond

For more information about helping your child deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina or another tragedy, visit www.choa.org  

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