Their latest focus is on storms. (Living in North Carolina where hurricanes are regular threats, I can fully appreciate these new resources.) And they are using characters from their popular children's programming to help children cope. For example, beginning this coming Tuesday, new storm-themed episodes of DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD and ARTHUR will premiere on PBS KIDS. The new ARTHUR episode features special guest star Idina Menzel as a caring therapist named Dr. Paula.
Below are five tips for you. But remember that you can find lots of new resources at http://pbskids.org/learn/.
Tips for Parents During and After an Emergency
Helpful Resources for Kids
- Keep yourself calm. Use your calmest and most reassuring voice when talking. Explain who will take care of them and keep them safe.
- Control children’s exposure to media before, during, and after the event. This is one way to manage images that might be scary or confusing for them.
- Listen carefully to what your children are talking about. Acknowledge their feelings. Give them the words to describe how they feel, such as, “It sounds like you’re feeling ‘scared’, ‘unsure about what’s going to happen next’, ‘sad’, ‘angry’.
- Do something your children enjoy, such as reading a book, playing a game, or telling a story.
- Give plenty of hugs!
Helpful Resources for Kids
- Watch helpful videos on what to do when something scary happens.
- Follow along with your favorite ARTHUR characters as they prepare for a storm.
- Children can draw pictures to show how they are feeling.
Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post, however, I'm a PBS Ambassador, which allows me to share new content with you as it is available. All thoughts and opinions are my own!