Children and earthquakes

Earthquakes are traumatic events for all of us, but they are especially frightening for children who may have to leave their homes and all that is familiar to them. A child does not usually understand such events and feels anxious, confused, and frightened. Fear is a normal reaction to any danger which threatens life or well-being. After an earthquake, a child's fears are those of recurrence, injury, death, or of being alone, separated from the rest of the family. Aftershocks can increase this fear.

Parents sometimes ignore the emotional needs of a child once assured of their physical safety. A child's persistent fears may generate disruptive behavior, surprising and frustrating a parent who is trying to continue with the daily family routine. How a parent can help:

• Keep the family together. This provides immediate reassurance to a child; fears of being abandoned and unprotected are alleviated.
• Reassure children by words as well as actions. Emphasize the positive: "We are all together and nothing has happened to us," or "You don't have to worry, we will look after you."
• Encourage the child to talk. It can also be helpful to include other family members, neighbors, and their children in a talk about reactions to the earthquake.
• Include the child in family activities. There will be important concerns and things to do after an earthquake: checking on the damage, cleaning up broken glass and fallen furniture. Whenever possible, a child can and should be included in these activities.
• At bedtime, a child may have difficulty falling asleep. The child may wake up during the night, and have nightmares for weeks or months after the earthquake. These situations may be dealt with by allowing the child to move into a room with another child or to sleep on a mattress in the parents' room, or simply by a parent spending a little extra time in the child's room giving reassurance.