Brisbane's Kids

Tips For Helping The Kids Through A Storm

Rainbow after beach storm on holiday

There is a few more months to go before the end of this year’s storm season. I’m not complaining about all the rain after such a long drought but the destruction I’m sure we could all do without.

•  Tell them in a very matter of fact way that a storm is coming. It’s a solid fact that kids mirror their parents and so a big part of them staying calm is by watching how you handle the storm

• Ask them how they feel about storms and discuss your feelings. It makes kids feel safe just feeling like they’ve been heard.

• If you need to tidy up outside ask them to help, giving them something to do or just being involved will help take their minds of it.

• Close up the house windows, doors and curtains if necessary while just casually wandering through the house. Again if you move to quickly that may be enough to set a child into panic mode.

• Be prepared for them to act a bit silly and hand out that extra bit of understanding. Its one way most kids work through feeling a bit anxious.

• Get them to help you locate and set up an area for candles to be lit should the power go out.  

• Have a pretend camp in the lounge room

• Prepare some snacks and have a lounge room picnic

• Play with play dough, pens or paint. Working with hands like this can relieve tension

• Play a favorite move on a lap top computer. If the power is out you’ll hopefully still have some battery life left.

• Read a story, do a puzzle or play Dress up

• Have a toy in reserve that they’ve never seen. New is always interesting.

• Bigger kids might like a scavenger hunt, and even better if the lights go out and they have torches.

• Speaking of torches it may be a good idea to give each child one of their own.

• One of the best ways to cope is to sit quietly and have a cuddle. My 4 year old was terrified of a storm recently and just fell asleep during it in my lap. He slept through the worst of the storm.

Tags: Brisbane storm, Storm Guide