Be Gentle with Yourself.
You just made some hard decisions about your family’s safety under immense pressure and limited sleep; be gentle with yourself. Practice using an inner kind voice as this will become your outer voice to your children. Find support to help with this as well.
Accept All the Feelings.
Accept your own feelings and validate your children’s feelings to let them know it’s okay to feel what they are feeling. Be a safe place for your child’s feelings without trying to “fix” them. Being open and curious will help them not feel alone in their feelings.
Help them see the Light.
Look for the positive and show gratitude to help you and your children feel hopeful. This also shows them they can count on others to care about them in a painful transition. This helps build resiliency in times of crisis.
Use Focused Energy.
Ask your children what they are concerned about, rather than telling them “everything”. Their curiosity and the things they are thinking about may surprise you. Show them their concerns are important to you.
Structure Some Simple Joys.
When your structured routine is disrupted, pick an activity your child can look forward to. For example, pick an outing to the movies and refer to it throughout the day so you child has some structure to orient to.
Help Them Be the Light.
After a traumatic experience, bring attention to others to gain some relief. Practicing small acts of kindness, such as sharing a snack or giving a card, keeps your child’s heart and mind empowered.
Resources
First 5 Shasta- Care Cope Connect
first5association.org/care-cope-connect
American Academy of Pediatrics
healthychildren.org (search topics below)
• How to Support Your Child’s Resilience in a Time of Crisis
• Talking to Children About Disasters
• How Families Can Cope with Relocation Stress After a Disaster
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
nctsn.org (search topics below)
• Age-Related Reactions to a Traumatic Event
• After a Crisis: Helping Young Children Heal
• Alcohol, Medication, and Drug Use after Disaster
• Tips for Relaxation
• Tips for Adults
• Tips for Parents Regarding Media Coverage
• Parent Guidelines for Helping Children Impacted by Wildfires
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Wildfires
cdc.gov/disasters/wildfires (search topic below)
• Protecting Your Physical & Emotional Wellbeing
Department of Homeland Security – Wildfires
ready.gov/wildfires
readyforwildfire.com
Mobile App
“Help Kids Cope” Available for Apple devices in the App Store and Android devices on Google Play
CalFire app Preparation:
http://www.readyforwildfire.org/more/ready-for-wildfire-app/
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