As hurricanes and tropical storms come and go how is your child being affected?  Many parents wonder, “How can I give my child security, amid this storm?”

•With your babies, up until age 2, keeping the environment as normal as possible is a high priority at home. They can easily sense emotional upset through facial expression as well as your reactions. To keep your child well physically and emotionally keep them on a regular schedule of meals and rest.

 •Your 3-year-olds through kindergarten age will verbalize more what they see and feel. Be ready to spend time in looking in their eyes and fully listening to what they are expressing.

This is a time that you cannot half listen and must fully interact with their thoughts and questions.

•With your first- through sixth-graders you have to be transparent. They will see insecurities whether you admit them or not. Do not try to hide your reactions but channel your reactions to a positive response in helping those who have been hurt by a hurricane or natural disaster.

Engage your family in the many volunteer activities in the community such as diaster relief projects. Young children can participate in folding, sorting and packaging needed items for the survivors.  School-age children can draw and write notes of encouragement to survivors as well as help the family gather needed items from the home to give to the survivors. The main key is listening and letting your child express himself during this time.

•Be sure to sift through programs that may be too graphic for a young mind.  As a parent be very sensitive to what is appropriate for your child’s emotions and well-being.

Even though after a storm we feel hurt or loss if our homes have been affected or just the emotions in enduring the storm takes a lot out of all of us, try to focus your thoughts on helping your neighbors and others. So many times after storms we seem to make new friends as we reach out and help each other. Take the time to show your young child or children how they can help others.

In this way your child will learn a lifelong lesson of helping others in need. As a neighborhood, community, town or city, this is how we help each other rebuild and restore our lives back to normal.

One thing that truly impressed so many families in our community after Hurricane Ivan in 2004 was the initiative that a few families came up with in providing a community block party with donated food, music, activities and entertainment as we in the communities of Spanish Fort and Daphne came together to restore normalcy after a natural disaster that seemed to wipe us off our feet for a while. Through the fun and fellowship of two communities coming together, we seemed to forget a disaster that had just happened a few weeks earlier.

After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, making the Daphne Civic Center into a shelter for our New Orleans neighbors who lost everything, were wonderful lessons for our young children to witness the helping our fellow human in time of need. I know the American Red Cross, many churches in the Daphne and Spanish Fort communities and civic organizations donated so very much of the resources they had as well as the time, love and sacrifice to take care of others.

Calmness, listening, transparency and helping seemed to be  recurring patterns of helping our children during storms. Even though we do not know what this season’s weather may bring, calmly preparing your child or children ahead of time is the very best route to take. For those little ones old enough to understand, explain to them what a hurricane, tropical storm, water spouts, tornados, etc. are. Explain this in such a way that it will not frighten them, but inform them to cope. If we have to move to shelters or evacuate, calmly include your children in the preparations. This will be a good way to prepare them for changes in the regular routine and schedule. When moving away from home, don’t forget to pack up favorite toys, blankets, pacifiers and other items they connect to for security. If preparing to stay at home, explain to them about the winds and rains that they will hear. Have your flashlights, first aid kits, stored up food and water ready to be used. Again include your young children in these preparations. 

I know there is so very much more to go over, but I hope this gives you an insight to help your young child weather the storms.

Beth Pinyerd lives in Daphne and serves as director of younger children at Faith Family Fellowship in Spanish Fort.