If you have a young child who has seen any images of the earthquake in Haiti, chances are you’re also getting the question: Can it happen here? Our instinct is to shield our children from information about all possible dangers in the belief if we don’t talk about it, they won’t worry. But if you remember your own childhood, you probably also remember some vivid nightmares and your own fears that came from adult conversations and news reports overheard.
The best approach is to listen to your child. See what’s on their minds. Don’t assume what they’re thinking about is the same as what you do. Hear them out, and reassure them as honestly as you can. In this case, you can answer that the chances are likely such an earthquake can’t happen here. And then ask if they’d like to help, perhaps by putting together some of their holiday gift money, and as a family, see if there’s something you can do. Action helps us all to cope with stressful situations. And it’s a valuable lesson for children that when fear strikes, there are ways we can work through it.
