Ask Margaret: My Kid Is Afraid of Storms
b'What do we do when our kids ask us to explain scary things like natural disasters, accidents, and bad news?\\nA listener in our Facebook group asks:\\n"My 5yo is afraid of naturally occurring phenomena. Natural disasters like floods, tornadoes, hurricanes. I try to explain these things very matter-of-factly but she would continue with questions for days. \\u201cDo we get tornadoes?\\u201d \\u201cWould a flood come to our house?\\u201d \\nIf we are watching a show and someone injures themselves she would ask about what happened for days. \\u201cMommy, what happened to that man? Why was he bleeding? Was he breathing? Why was his arm like that?\\u201d \\nI realized these are very different situations but they all fuel some kind of anxiety in her. Does anyone else have a kid(s) dealing with these kinds of emotions? How can I help reassure her that she is safe and other people are safe when bad things happen to them?"\\nMargaret says it\'s best to answer the question actually being asked\\u2014 like "Is a flood coming to our house?" \\u2014rather than overexplaining natural disasters in general. Be honest with your kids about the nature of dangerous things, and be present with them. Ultimately what your kids really want is to process their feelings with you, their safe space.\\nLyra Fontaine for Seattle Children\'s Hospital: Helping Kids Cope with Anxiety Over Distressing News\\nSpecial thanks to our sponsor, Pampers: \\nFor trusted protection, choose Pampers, the #1 Pediatrician Recommended Brand. Download the Pampers Club App today to start earning free diapers.\\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices'