
By Leslie K. Taylor, PhD
It’s the end of the school year and many children and families are ready for days at the swimming pool, having cookouts or planning for vacation. Summer also marks the beginning of hurricane season, with heavy spring rains as common reminders of Hurricanes Harvey, Maria, Florence, or Michael. Children may have questions about thunderstorms, flooding, or what will happen if there’s a hurricane. Whether these questions are an indication of curiosity or potential nervousness about inclement weather, it’s important for parents to provide answer calm and thoughtful answers. Children’s concerns about disaster are not always fully appreciated by adults. It’s important for parents to ask children questions and gain understanding of their children’s knowledge and perspective of hurricanes, provide them developmentally appropriate information about how to prepare, and for parents to know and anticipate what their children will need from them during these events.
Share This Post!
13 Million Children Face Hunger Every Day – and the Problem is Worse During the Summer
By Move For Hunger There are 13 million children in America who don’t know where their next meal will come from. Throughout the school year, many participate in programs that provide [...]
Sexual Abuse of Children at Camp is an Epidemic:
By Mick S. Grewal Sexual abuse by camp counselors is a national epidemic, according to various organizations, including Crime Stoppers. Every year, nearly 10 million children attend summer camp. In 2018, CBS [...]
Trends in U.S. Emergency Department Visits Related to Suspected or Confirmed Child Abuse and Neglect Among Children and Adolescents Aged <18 Years Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, January 2019–September 2020
By The C.D.C. Heightened stress, school closures, loss of income, and social isolation resulting from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have increased the risk for child abuse and neglect (1). [...]
Behind the Term: Trauma
By U.C. Berkeley The term “trauma” can mean different things, depending on the context. Semantically, trauma refers to an experience or event; nevertheless, people use the term interchangeably to refer to [...]
Ukrainian refugees in Poland get help for trauma you can’t see — mental health
By Dana Bash and Abbie Sharpe, CNN Warsaw, Poland (CNN)Eight-year-old Yana was going to gymnastics class six days a week at home near Odessa, Ukraine. Now, she can only practice by [...]
Mental health effects of Ukraine war zone on children
By Mary Kekatos As the Russian invasion of Ukraine intensifies, children are experiencing devastating consequences of being caught up in the war zone. At least seven children have been killed, according to United Nations [...]