How to Prepare Kids for a Storm

Storms can be absolutely horrifying, especially for kids. Events like these make a more significant impact on children than on adults, making it difficult to calm them during and after a disaster. Informing and educating them by calmly explaining what’s coming up and what you’re doing about it helps create a less anxiety-ridden experience for them. 

Moreover, kids get to learn how to respond to scenarios based on the actions and behaviors of those around them. When they actively participate in the storm preparation, they’ll grow into bold and courageous hurricane preppers themselves. 

Let’s find out how to prepare kids for a storm.

The Best Ways To Prepare Kids For A Storm

When severe weather strikes, it’s essential that your kids feel just as prepared as you do. Keep reading as we dive into some easy tips to help you prepare kids for a storm.

Explain What a Hurricane Actually Is

Until you explain it to them, most children are unaware of what a hurricane is. You want them to be crystal clear regarding what exactly they should be expecting. This way, they won’t be surprised when the storm eventually comes. When discussing hurricanes with them, use simple language to explain what to expect. For example, you might define hurricanes as tropical storms that contain strong winds and lots of rain, thunder, and lightning. Don’t forget to assure them that you will do everything in your power to keep them safe.

Stay Calm 

Before and during the disaster, keep yourself and other adults calm. Being overly worried or upset will only worsen children’s own worries and fears. Kids sense your emotions more easily than you think.

If you have a plan and stick to it, your kids will know that everything will be ok no matter how bad the weather is.

Involve Kids in Your Pre-Storm Preparations

When planning your disaster plan, let the children participate. Letting them play an active role in the preparation process helps increase their sense of control over the situation rather than feeling helpless. Keeping them busy with preparations also helps keep fear out of their minds. 

When organizing your family disaster emergency kit, assign them age-appropriate tasks such as getting the flashlights ready and collecting canned goods. If you think your family may need to evacuate, discuss the situation with everyone, including the children, with regards to what the plan would look like. Unplanned evacuation can cause unnecessary panic among adults and children alike.

Let them pack a bag of comfort items and toys and games that they can look forward to using if disaster does strike. Especially if you have a custom storm shelter like the ones at Valley Storm Shelters, you can make sure your kids have all the amenities they need during a tornado or hurricane. You can even leave their kits in the shelter so they are ready at all times. 

Stay By Their Side During the Storm

During the storm, try your best to keep them engaged with toys and other items of their interest. In the case of a power outage, encourage them to pick non-electronic games. The more you can keep their mind of the storm, the better off they will be. If they look traumatized, encourage them to disclose their thoughts and feelings about the event. Even if they don’t say anything, reassure them that you’re there by their side to keep them safe.

Again, giving them distractions and encouraging them to have fun even during a stressful time can go a long way to keeping them content and calm.

Things to Do After the Storm

The media tends to broadcast too much coverage about such events. Those images can be scarier for kids’ sensitive hearts. Limit exposure to such media broadcasts. Instead, involve them in the post-storm cleanup process! Get them involved in the community. Helping others can help them relieve stress and give them a purpose after disaster strikes.

It’s important to keep talking to your kids, especially after terrifying storms. Make sure they know they can talk to you if they are still scared, and keep lines of communication open. Keep reassuring them that storms are natural and that they are safe, and things will be ok.

If you notice signs of stress such as regressive behavior, extra clinginess, or nightmares, consult your family doctor at your earliest convenience.

Conclusion

We hope you found this guide insightful with regards to how to prepare kids for a storm. Preparing your kids for an upcoming hurricane is a great way to mitigate the events’ impact on their lives. While the above-explained tips should minimize the blow, you’ll need to be more decisive to ensure complete safety. Valley Storm Shelters, the safest storm shelter in the US, offers numerous solutions to keep you and your family safe through hurricanes. 

To request protection, contact Valley Storm Shelters today! We have