CHILDREN AND

NATURAL
DISASTERS

Carmen M. Sabino
MA Psy, RPsy, RPm
Emotional stress is
harder on children
because they:
>Understand less about the
situation;
>Feel less able to control events;
>Have less experience dealing
with stressful situations; and
>May not be able to communicate
their feelings, such as fear or
anxiety.
Children’s Reactions to
A Natural Disaster:

1. Shock
2. Feeling of helplessness
3. Anxiety (shown in
disobedience, refusal to
go to school)
4. Difficulty sleeping
5. Hyper arousal
6. Fear (of being injured, of losing
one’s loved ones)
7. Physiological reactions:
heart pounding, vomiting
constipation, headache, change
in appetite, loss of bladder
and/or bowel control
8. Feeling overwhelmed
SOURCES OF FEELING
OVERWHELMED:

1. inability to protect oneself

2. lack of protection from
others/adults around them
3. intensity of physical and
emotional response
• HOW CAN WE SUPPORT YOUNG CHILDREN
AFTER EXPERIENCING
AN EARTHQUAKE?
What can we do to support our children at this point?

Enable children to talk about their Provide them different ways to talk
experience of the earthquake . about their experience.

Explain to children what an

Stick to routine activities at home
earthquake is, using simple words
and at school. This is another way
that are within their level of
to increase their sense of security
understanding. You may search the
and safety.
YouTube for cartoon videoclips.
Never lie to them that an earthquake will not happen again. Instead
reassure them that you and others at home or in school will always do
their best to keep them safe.

Teach them what to do when an earthquake happens, whether they are

indoors or outdoors. Model and rehearse with them if needed.

Prepare and show your children your family’s emergency exit route.
Practice how to use it.
 Always make sure our children can
recite their complete name, address,
and contact number of their
Model to your kids your own sense
parents/guardians. A card with
of preparedness and confidence to
these pieces of information should
deal with anything unexpected.
be carried at all times, especially for
very young children and children
with special needs.
Spend as much quality and bonding time with Do not expose them to other movies or
your kids as often and as regularly as possible. videoclips about natural disasters to prevent
adding up to their fears now.
• If, more than one month
after the trauma, your child
still shows any one or more
of the following behaviors,
bring your child to a
professional helper
• exaggerated sensitivity to sounds
• intrusive or involuntary memories about the earthquake/traumatic event
• difficulty in sleeping and/or repetitive dreams that are scary to the child
• intense or prolonged psychological distress when presented with people,
places, or activities related to the trauma
• marked physiological responses to reminders of the traumatic event such
as stomachache, headache, etc.; and
• loss of interest in play and other previously enjoyed activities.
References:

• https://www.google.com/search?q=children%3Bs+typical+reactions+t
o+natural+disaster&oq=chi&aqs=chrome.1.69i59l3j69i57j0j69i60.596
2j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
• https://www.cdc.gov/childrenindisasters/children-disaster-help.html
• American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American
Psychiatric Publishing
•Thank you.