As wildfires raged throughout Los Angeles in early January, the entire community endured a collective trauma, one that has the potential to impact the mental and physical health of the city’s residents. It’s easy to forget that natural disasters like wildfires – as well as hurricanes, mudslides, snowstorms, and more – can be considered trauma-inducing events, but it’s an important reminder as we continue to face more of these events in the coming years.
It’s important for all of us to know that those impacted by the wildfires could develop PTSD – and that children are not exempt. In fact, 16% of kids exposed to a traumatic event will go on to develop PTSD.
If you’re the parent or caregiver of a child affected by the LA fires, here’s how you can support them as you look ahead to what’s next:
1. Don’t fib for the sake of comfort.
If your child is asking about returning to school or the state of your family’s home, it can be tempting to offer them some bit of reassurance – even when you might not be 100% sure. As parents, we all worry that the truth can be hard for our children to accept.
But fibbing for the sake of comfort isn’t helpful for children, because they hold adults in their lives accountable to what they say. Instead of setting them up for disappointment or specific expectations, being truthful is more helpful in the long-run. That said, try not to overwhelm them. If there’s a lot of bad news, consider sharing it in multiple sittings, rather than all at once.
2. Aim for routine.
Kids respond well psychologically to structure, and they usually get a lot of it from school, athletics, clubs, and afterschool activities. But in the aftermath of the fires, some of these sources of routine may be tough to access.
So create your own routine where you can. Host a study hour with your friends at your local library, or hold a Girl Scouts social hour to tide the group over until regular meetings can be resumed. Built-in plans like these can help reduce some of the fear and anxiety your kids might be feeling.
3. Take a break from the news.
There’s been no shortage of news coverage and social media posts about the wildfires, which has been critical for information and resource sharing in the days since. But consistent exposure to information and images of the wildfires could risk triggering your kids – so where you can, try to reduce access to these sources. Instead of playing the news at home or letting the kids scroll on Instagram, play a family game or listen to a podcast about overcoming hardship. It can help to have some extra thoughtfulness around information sharing.
4. Own your uncertainty.
Adults and children alike have trouble sitting with uncertainty, especially in the wake of traumatic events like these. It might help your kids feel less alone if you share your own uncertainty with them. Acknowledging that you don’t know when life will feel normal again – and that not knowing feels uncomfortable – is a great way to create an emotional safe space, allowing your kids to express their own feelings too.
5. Enlist professional help.
The trauma of the wildfires could cause anxiety, depression, or PTSD in children – so it’s important to understand the symptoms and act if needed. Of course kids will feel worried or anxious during this time of instability, but if their behavior feels out of proportion to what’s happening or it lasts long after life returns to normal, it could be time to seek help.
After a disaster, coping with post-traumatic stress can be challenging, especially for children. Maintaining routines, providing stability, and ensuring emotional security can help them feel supported and optimistic.
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