Helping Children Cope with Wildfires
Parents are under immense pressure to provide a safe and nurturing environment for their children, and when there is trauma, that duty becomes even more challenging.
The devastating wildfires spreading through Los Angeles are causing fear, anxiety, and concern for everyone. While it’s crucial to prepare and stay safe, it’s equally important to address emotional well-being and manage stress. For those with children, there’s the added responsibility of providing support, information, and a sense of safety. Here are some tips to help navigate this sensitive time:
Communicate, Listen, and Validate
It’s natural to want to protect children from fear, but dismissing their feelings can make things worse. Encourage open communication by listening without judgment and validating their emotions. Saying, “I understand you’re scared,” or “It’s okay to feel this way,” helps them feel heard and supported. Instead of dismissing their concerns, try, “I’m here for you,” or “How can I help?”
Address Catastrophic Thinking
If children start imagining worst-case scenarios, such as “What if our house burns down?” guide them back to the present. Shift their focus from “What if” to “What is” to reduce anxiety. Emphasizing the present moment provides a greater sense of control.
Limit News and Screen Time
While staying informed is essential, excessive exposure to news can heighten anxiety. Monitor what children see and hear, and avoid sensationalized media. Share updates calmly and only when necessary.
Keep Explanations Age-Appropriate
Tailor information to your child’s developmental stage:
Regardless of age, validating their concerns remains key.
Be a Role Model
Children take cues from how parents handle stress. Demonstrate healthy coping strategies like communication, mindfulness, and staying calm. Show that while it’s normal to feel anxious, you’re focused on what you can control.
Reassure Their Safety
Validate their fears while reassuring them of their safety. Let them know you’re taking every step to protect them and that their well-being is your top priority.
Practice Gratitude
End each day by having everyone share three good things that happened, no matter how small. Gratitude shifts focus to the positive and promotes resilience, even in challenging times.
Helping children through a crisis requires patience, honesty, and understanding. By providing a safe space for them to share their feelings, validating their emotions, and reassuring their safety, you can help them navigate this difficult time with greater confidence and peace of mind.
Executive Director Moe Gelbart, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist, a graduate of the University of Southern California, and has been practicing since 1976. He has expertise in alcohol and substance abuse, is certified by the American Psychological Association in the Treatment of Substance Abuse, and was one of the founders of the Thelma McMillen Recovery Center.
He is presently the director of behavioral health at Torrance Memorial Medical Center. He has wide experience in workplace violence and stress, managed care issues, chronic pain, and works with adolescents and adults, in individual, couple and group therapy. In addition, he treats anxiety, depressive disorders and relationships.
