06 March 2023

How to Approach Children After an Earthquake?

The approach to children after an earthquake is very important to protect their mental health. Natural disasters such as earthquakes can cause trauma in children. Therefore, children need emotional and physical support after an earthquake. Understanding what they feel, their fears and anxieties in this process will reduce the impact of the trauma experienced. Therefore, establishing a correct communication with children after the earthquake will ensure that the problem is solved in a timely manner before it progresses. Some tips for approaching the child after the earthquake are given below.

How to Communicate with Children after an Earthquake

Not to insist that they speak.
The explanations should be appropriate for the child's development.
The answer should be as clear as possible.
They must be made to feel safe.
Their feelings should not be underestimated, they should be talked about.
Create an environment that allows them to express their feelings.
All questions should be answered.
Do not ask too many questions about the moment of the earthquake.
It should be explained that it is a temporary process.
Daily habits should be re-established.

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1. Do not insist that they speak.

Talking to children after an earthquake is very important to understand how they feel. Therefore, attention should be paid to how and how often to talk to children. However, insisting that children talk about the earthquake and showing them images of the earthquake may increase their anxiety and delay the healing process.

2. Explanations should be appropriate to the child's developmental level.

After the earthquake, explanations should be simple and understandable, appropriate to the child's developmental level. Children's emotional states may differ according to age and therefore they should be allowed to express their feelings. At this point, it is important to explain the event with correct and explanatory sentences. With such explanations, children's anxiety and fear about the earthquake can be reduced.

3. Answer as clearly as possible.

In general, clear and understandable sentences that are appropriate for children's developmental level should be used. Giving clear answers is important to reduce children's post-earthquake fears and make them feel safe. However, clear answers do not necessarily mean detailed and frightening information. For this reason, the answers should be answered in a way that children can understand.

4. They must be made to feel safe.

Earthquakes can trigger the development of emotions such as worry, fear and anxiety in children. Therefore, making them feel safe is important for their psychological recovery. Tell children that they are often with safe people. Feeling safe will make it easier to return to their daily habits.

5.Their feelings should not be underestimated and should be discussed.

What children feel should be discussed openly. Understanding the emotions they are experiencing and talking about what they feel will reduce the psychological effects of the earthquake. Also, a safe environment should be created for children to express their feelings. Thus, the normalization process can be easier.

6. Create an environment that allows them to express their feelings.

Earthquakes can have a profound impact on daily life and therefore a space should be created to allow children to express their feelings. This space should be an environment where children can do their daily activities and support their development. In addition, empathy when talking to children is very important in overcoming this process.

7. All questions should be answered.

After an earthquake, children may feel anxious and fearful and ask many questions. Answering these questions will help children to understand the event and learn how to cope if it happens again. The answers can help reduce children's anxiety symptoms.

8. Do not ask too many questions about the moment of the earthquake.

Asking too many questions about the earthquake can cause serious negative effects on children's subconscious minds. Stress levels may increase, feelings of trust may be shaken, and traumatic events may replay in their minds. For this reason, children should be asked questions appropriate to their development and psychology.

9.It should be explained that it is a temporary process.

Telling children that the earthquake is a temporary process and that everything will be fine will reduce their stress levels. They should be told that they are not to blame for the earthquake and that it was a natural event. Also, returning to daily routines will help them see that the process is overcome in a healthy way.

10.Daily habits should be re-established.

Daily habits of children should be re-established in the face of post-earthquake difficulties. These habits may include drawing, playing games, going to school. Re-establishing daily habits will help reduce the effects of the earthquake. Changes such as establishing sleep patterns and changing eating habits can be among the changes to be made.

In conclusion;

When communicating with children after an earthquake, their feelings, fears and anxieties should not be underestimated. It should be conveyed in the right language that children are not to blame for the earthquake. The event should be concretized and explained in its simplest form. They should be accommodated in an environment where they will feel safe.

Their needs should be met and they should be allowed to express their feelings. Also, getting them back into daily routines will reassure them that everything is OK.

For more information on how to treat children after an earthquake, please visit The Effects of an Earthquake on Child Psychology and Ways to Cope.

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