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Supporting Primary Aged Students: Information for Families

1. Monitor media exposure
   Children can become anxious after listening to or watching repeated stories about weather events. Limit their exposure to news and other programs with potentially distressing images and sounds.

2. Listen to understand how they are feeling and thinking
   Gently encourage (but don’t force) children to talk about their thoughts and feelings. Reassure them that their emotions are normal. Be prepared for them to ask the same questions repeatedly as they try to process events. Stay patient, offering simple, honest, and thoughtful explanations that help them build a realistic understanding. If they have any misconceptions about the situation or potential risks, gently correct them with clear and accurate information.

3. Provide children with opportunities to express their feelings
   Children need comfort, reassurance and support, and to know that they are safe and are being looked after. Conversation starters:

• • ‘The weather forecast says there might be heavy rain and winds, so we are getting ready to keep everyone safe.’
  • ‘We have a plan to keep safe.’
  • ‘How can I help you feel better?’
  • ‘It’s okay to feel worried. Want to talk about it?’

4. If your family has had previous experience of an extreme weather event?
   Children are best supported when somebody important to them knows how they are feeling. Nurture your family with time and attention and be ready to have open, age-appropriate conversations about what they are thinking and feeling and how they are responding to talk about a weather event.
   
   You might try conversation starters like:

• • ‘I notice you seem a little quieter/more anxious/a bit edgier) than usual. I wonder why that  is?’
  • ‘People seem to be talking a lot more about a weather event again. How is that making you feel?’
  • ‘I can see you are feeling a bit worried about the rain as it might be reminding you of when we were flooded. It could be a while before we feel completely safe in wet weather, but why don’t we just snuggle together and do a jigsaw/watch a movie/play a game to  help ourselves feel better.’
  • ‘What would help you feel calmer right now?’

5. Be aware of how you talk in their presence
   Shield children from in-depth adult discussion about these events, especially if they cannot join in at their own age or stage of development.
   
   Children may respond to the anxieties felt and expressed by the people around them. They often see and hear far more than adults are aware of, and they will take their cues for how to respond from you.  Signs that your child has been negatively affected by information about a weather event might include:

• • becoming clingy towards a parent or carer.
  • changes to sleeping or eating patterns, or both
  • the emergence of new physical complaints – such as stomach ache or headache.
  • changes in mood – such as being more easily irritable, or shutting down
  • appearing on edge and frightened.

7. Increasing Sense of Safety
   Focus on how you are keeping your child and their loved ones, including pets, safe during the event. Show them the preparations you’ve made—such as candles for a power outage or securing loose items outside—so they can see proactive steps being taken. This can help them feel more protected. Talk with them about simple ways they can manage their worries, like cuddling with a loved one, wearing headphones to block out loud wind, or soothing a pet. Giving them their own plan of action increases their sense of control and helps reduce anxiety.
   
   Prayer, meditation and practising deep breathing can all help children find calm amidst anxious feelings. Try these activities with your child to help find comfort and a release from feelings of worry.
   
   Accept your child's responses, reactions and feelings. Don’t tell them to ‘stop being silly’, or to ‘be brave’. Do not make behavioural or emotional demands or have expectations the child might not be able to meet at this particular time.

8. Understanding Real Word Events - Birdie's Tree
   You may like to use the Queensland Health Birdie Resources. 

• • Link to Birdie and the Cyclone Flipbook and video
  • Link to Birdie and the Flood Flipbook and video
  • Link to Birdie and Mr Frog Online Game
  • Children and stressful events video for parents (4 minutes).
  • Read the story and talk about the pictures. Help students to understand what a cyclone is, and what happens after. 
  • Help your child to name their feelings. Help them to understand they will feel safe and happy again. Use the Relaxing with Birdie resources to practice coping strategies.

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Supporting Teenagers: Information for Families

Teenagers might seem confident and act grown up, but they can still need support from parents, carers and other family members during and after a natural disaster. These are tips for supporting your young person.

1. Be there for them
   Support your teenager by being there when they want to talk and validating their emotions. Natural disasters can bring up big feelings like sadness, anger, worry, or fear, and it’s important to let them know these emotions are normal. Listen without judgment, share your own feelings appropriately, and encourage open conversations so they feel safe expressing themselves. 

2. Monitor media exposure
   Teenagers can become anxious after listening to or watching repeated stories about a natural disaster, and can come to believe that everywhere is under threat. Limit their exposure to news and other programs with potentially distressing images and sounds.

3. Provide Stability
   Providing a sense of stability for your teenager can help them feel more comfortable during this time of change until things get back to normal. Everyday routines can also help your teenager take care of their body and mind, which might make them feel better and give them a sense of control.

4. Be aware of how you talk in their presence
   Shield your teenager from in-depth adult discussions about these events, especially if they cannot join in at their own age or stage of development. They can distort what they hear or see, especially when the information is received through indirect communication (for example, overheard adult conversations about worrying topics). 

5. Notice
   When we are stressed, sad, worried or angry, it can make us act in different ways. If you notice your teenager is behaving in a way that isn’t normal for them, understand that it might be because of their emotional distress. If needed, seek advice from your GP, NSW Mental Health Line 1800 011 511 or NSW Parentline 1300 1300 52. 

6. Sense of Safety
   Focus on how you are keeping your young person and their loved ones, including pets, safe during the event. Show them the preparations you’ve made—such as candles for a power outage or securing loose items outside—so they can see proactive steps being taken. This can help them feel more protected. Talk with them about simple ways they can manage their worries, like wearing headphones to block out loud wind, or soothing a pet. Giving them their own plan of action increases their sense of control and helps reduce anxiety. If your child was impacted by a previous weather event, talk to them about how they are feeling and encourage them to let you know when they are feeling stressed or overwhelmed. You could share the strategies you use.
   
   When times are difficult, it can help to take notice of all the good things still in your life. Encourage your teenager to take some time to think about the positives– however small. Help them to focus on what they can control, such as self-care and reaching out for support. Prayer and meditation can help teenagers find calm and strength during times of natural disaster and crisis. Taking a few moments to pray, reflect on some of the positive aspects of life, or practice deep breathing can provide comfort, reduce stress, and create a sense of hope and resilience. You may like to encourage them to use these practices as a way to process their emotions and find peace amid uncertainty.

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Students With Additional Needs

Online parenting resource raisingchildren.net.au suggests the following when preparing for a natural disaster:

1. Organising information
   If your child has specific health, medical, behavioural, mobility, or other additional needs, you likely have important paperwork and essential information. Keeping everything organised in one place, such as a folder or file, ensures you can quickly grab it in case of a natural disaster. This preparation can help you access necessary details easily during an emergency. 

2. Packing an emergency bag
   Your child may require specific items for their health, care, safety, and comfort. Prepare a dedicated bag with these essentials and store it in an easily accessible location. Regularly check and update any medications or specialised foods to ensure they remain safe and effective for use in an emergency.

3. Making a natural disaster action plan
   Consider your child’s health, medical, behavioural, mobility or other additional needs, which might affect what you do, where you go and what help you need in a natural disaster.

4. Preparing your child
   Consider the following that you may discuss with your child:
   
   
   • Understanding changes to routine, such as school closure, preferred activity or specialised support. 
   • Including them in any planning. This can help with understanding what could happen and gain some feelings of control.
   • Explain if you have to evacuate, where could that be and what that could look like. 
   • Talk about the fact that there may be power outages or the internet may not be available, and what alternative activities they could choose to do. Pack an activities bag such as books, cards, colouring, toys, board games.

References

• Raisingchildren. Natural disaster preparation: children and teenagers with disability, autism or additional needs
• Queensland Government. Prepare For Disaster With Disability

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