February Topic of the Month
Modified & Adapted from The American Academy of Pediatrics www.aap.org
THE AAP RESPONDS TO EARTHQUAKE IN HAITI
The AAP is working with the federal government and the National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions to help identify medical needs in the disaster area and to coordinate the response from U.S. pediatricians.
Pediatricians and parents can help children with distress they may experience when learning about disasters. Families can start by talking to children in an age-appropriate way about their own family disaster preparedness plans, and by limiting children’s exposure to graphic images in the media of the disaster victims and devastation.
The AAP is working with the federal government and the National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions to help identify medical needs in the disaster area and to coordinate the response from U.S. pediatricians.
Pediatricians and parents can help children with distress they may experience when learning about disasters. Families can start by talking to children in an age-appropriate way about their own family disaster preparedness plans, and by limiting children’s exposure to graphic images in the media of the disaster victims and devastation.
What to Tell Your Children About Natural Events
It is important to discuss natural occurrences with children, without overly alarming them. Use their own words and explain that nature sometimes provides “too much of a good thing” – fire, rain, or wind.
Sometimes nature requires intense winds, fire, storms to plant new seeds for food, shelter...
Hop on the internet and explore the history of Yellowstone National Park and
the importance of fire to that ecosystem.
Discuss media terms such as “disaster” and “devastation”
and help to replace the fear with understanding.
Knowledge IS Power!
It is important to discuss natural occurrences with children, without overly alarming them. Use their own words and explain that nature sometimes provides “too much of a good thing” – fire, rain, or wind.
Sometimes nature requires intense winds, fire, storms to plant new seeds for food, shelter...
Hop on the internet and explore the history of Yellowstone National Park and
the importance of fire to that ecosystem.
Discuss media terms such as “disaster” and “devastation”
and help to replace the fear with understanding.
Knowledge IS Power!
Yellowstone National Park Education Department
www.windowsintowonderland.org/fire/index.html
www.greateryellowstonescience.org/topics/ecological/fire/ecology
FEMA for Kids
www.fema.gov/kids/index.htm
What can I do?
www.redcross.org/
www.windowsintowonderland.org/fire/index.html
www.greateryellowstonescience.org/topics/ecological/fire/ecology
FEMA for Kids
www.fema.gov/kids/index.htm
What can I do?
www.redcross.org/
If a child is involved in a natural event:
Turn off the TV Disaster related TV programs should be restricted. News coverage of disasters—especially if children see their own town or school on TV–can be traumatic to children of all ages. If children watch TV coverage of the disaster, parents should watch with them and talk about it afterwards.
Activities to Get Children Talking About a Natural Event Encourage children to draw or paint pictures of how they feel about their experiences. Hang these at the child’s eye level to be seen easily. Write a story of the frightening event. You might start with: Once upon a time there was a strange ______ and it scared us all ______. This is what happened: ______. Be sure to end with “And we are now safe.”
Kids Get Ready Kit- Add to your Hurricane Preparedness Assemble a Special “Get Ready Kit” for kids. Explain to your children that you might need to leave your house during a disaster and sleep somewhere else for awhile. Here are some items you and your children could put into a back pack so it will be ready if needed:
A few favorite books, crayons, and paper.
Two favorite small toys doll/action figure.
A board game or puzzle.
A deck of cards.
A favorite stuffed animal.
A favorite blanket or pillow.
Picture of your family and pets.
A box of treasures that help you feel safe
Turn off the TV Disaster related TV programs should be restricted. News coverage of disasters—especially if children see their own town or school on TV–can be traumatic to children of all ages. If children watch TV coverage of the disaster, parents should watch with them and talk about it afterwards.
Activities to Get Children Talking About a Natural Event Encourage children to draw or paint pictures of how they feel about their experiences. Hang these at the child’s eye level to be seen easily. Write a story of the frightening event. You might start with: Once upon a time there was a strange ______ and it scared us all ______. This is what happened: ______. Be sure to end with “And we are now safe.”
Kids Get Ready Kit- Add to your Hurricane Preparedness Assemble a Special “Get Ready Kit” for kids. Explain to your children that you might need to leave your house during a disaster and sleep somewhere else for awhile. Here are some items you and your children could put into a back pack so it will be ready if needed:
A few favorite books, crayons, and paper.
Two favorite small toys doll/action figure.
A board game or puzzle.
A deck of cards.
A favorite stuffed animal.
A favorite blanket or pillow.
Picture of your family and pets.
A box of treasures that help you feel safe
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Topic of the Month Current Events Dining Previous Posts Resources
Topic of the Month Current Events Dining Previous Posts Resources