Soothing Children When Wicked Weather Strikes

If your child is anxious or fearful during thunderstorms, here are a few things you can do…

• Offer reassurance with hugs and words.
• Ask your child what will make him or her feel better (wearing earphones to block out the noise; building a fort from furniture and blankets to crawl inside).
• Teach the science behind thunder and lightning. Knowledge and understanding can make things less scary and give your child a sense of control.
• Teach your child how to stay safe (go inside when lightning strikes; don’t stand under trees or large objects; stay out of water).
• Remember that lots of kids at some point in life are scared of storms but that fear usually evaporates as they get older.