When explaining earthquakes to children, using a language appropriate for their age, answering their questions, and providing reassurance are important. Avoiding scary details and emphasizing positive actions can alleviate their anxieties. Including children in emergency preparedness plans for long-term support can increase their sense of control.
Earthquakes can be a frightening and stressful experience for both adults and children. However, it is important to inform children about this situation in a correct manner and provide reassurance for them to cope. In this article, we discuss effective ways to explain earthquakes to children, key points in making age-appropriate explanations, and methods for providing long-term support.
Children perceive information differently based on their age and developmental stage:
Preschool Children: They may have difficulty understanding abstract concepts like earthquakes. Children in this age group may relate events with imagination and exaggerate their fears.
School-Aged Children (7 years and older): They are inclined to understand basic facts. However, detailed or scary information can increase their anxieties.
Adopting an approach that suits the child's age and needs reduces confusion and anxiety.
1. Use Age-Appropriate Language
Provide explanations to young children with short and concrete phrases: "Sometimes the ground shakes, but we are safe now." Avoid technical terms and scary details.
2. Provide Reassurance
Display a loving approach for children to feel safe. Physical contact, such as a hug, can calm them down.
Provide reassurance with statements like "We are doing everything necessary to protect you."
3. Limit Exposure to Media
Protect children from frightening visuals and sensational news. Instead, explain earthquakes using child-friendly content.
4. Listen to and Answer Their Questions
Allow children to ask questions they are curious about. Be honest in answering their questions, but avoid details that can increase their worries.
5. Encourage Positive Actions
Emphasize positive roles such as rescue teams and volunteers, instilling values of resilience and cooperation.
Allow children to express their feelings through activities like drawing and storytelling.
To help children regain their sense of security after the earthquake experience, you can take the following steps:
Avoid Definitive Statements: Statements like "There will never be another earthquake" can lead to feelings of insecurity if another earthquake occurs in the future. Instead, use a realistic and calming tone like "We are safe at the moment."
Monitor Anxiety Symptoms: Observe behavioral changes such as sleep problems, loss of appetite, or withdrawal and seek help from a professional if needed.
Involve in Preparedness Plans: Involving children in creating family emergency plans increases their sense of control and reduces feelings of helplessness.
Explaining earthquakes to children requires a delicate balance. Providing clear, honest, and age-appropriate information reduces children's anxieties and helps them feel safer. Parents can help children build resilience in such challenging situations with a loving and supportive approach.
Correct communication and reassurance in the face of uncertainty will enable children to handle similar events more effectively in the future.
