Gevirtz Professor Offers Tips on Helping Kids Cope

George Yatchisin – Indy food editor and spokesperson for the Gevirtz School of Education – offers some tips from Gevirtz professor Shane Jimerson about how adults can make the current wildfire situation a little easier for children.

As one might expect, natural disasters can be traumatic for children and youth. Experiencing a dangerous and destructive wildfire such as the current Tea Fire can be frightening for children and adults, and the devastation to the familiar environment (i.e., home and community) can be long-lasting and distressing. Often an entire community is impacted, further undermining a child’s sense of security and normalcy.

Wildfires present a variety of unique issues and coping challenges, including the need to relocate when home and/or community have been destroyed, the role of the family in lessening or exacerbating the trauma, emotional reactions, and coping techniques is essential. Children look to the significant adults in their lives for guidance on how to manage their reactions after the immediate threat is over.

Parents, teachers, and other adults can help children and youth cope in the aftermath of a wildfire by remaining calm and reassuring children that they will be all right. Immediate response efforts should emphasize teaching effective coping strategies, fostering supportive relationships, and helping children understand their reactions.

Further details regarding issues and challenges associated with wildfires, possible reactions of children and youth to wildfires, specific information for schools immediately following a wildfire, and helping children adjust to relocation after a wildfire are available in the resource “Helping Children After a Wildfire: Tips for Parents and Teachers.”