Responding with Mental Health in Mind

All staff who care for children should be prepared to support their emotional well-being during the response phase of an emergency.

While responding to any disaster:

• Talk with children about what they think happened. Explain what is happening using language that is appropriate for their age and development.
  • Be honest if a child knows about upsetting details that are true; listen to them and talk with them about their fears.
  • Recognize that children of emergency workers may worry about their parent’s safety.
  • Answer questions simply but avoid sharing information that the child has not asked about — information that could confuse or upset them.
• Be patient if children ask the same question many times. Children often repeat themselves for comfort.
• If a child seems reluctant to talk, suggest they draw pictures, which may encourage discussion.
• Reassure children using calming phrases and techniques for suggestions of words to comfort children.
• Encourage children to share their feelings through toys or puppets. This is a helpful way for adults to begin talking with children about their worries and fears. It is also normal for a child to feel angry about an event that scared them.
• Arrange developmentally appropriate activities for children, such as those in a Bee CALM Backpack.
• When possible, keep regular times for meals and other activities because it is helpful for children to follow familiar routines.
• Limit children’s exposure to media.
• Inform the mental health lead about significant incidents related to a child’s emotional well-being.
• Pay attention to the child’s behavior and write down your observations. This can help you get help for the child and refer them to the right resources if needed after an emergency.

During an evacuation:

• Take a deep breath before holding or picking up a child and focusing on them. This will help you and the child stay calm. It is important to let children know that adults are in control. This will help children feel safer during an evacuation.
• When you arrive at the shelter, remind the children of stories you have read about the emergency.
• If you see emergency workers such as police, paramedics, and firefighters, you can talk about their uniforms, the sirens, and each of their jobs. Point out all the ways they are helping everyone to be safe.

During shelter-in-place, lockdown, and stay safe procedures:

• Do quiet activities, like reading, using Play-Doh, or coloring. You can also tell stories or quietly sing familiar songs.
• Model calm behavior. Comfort children with hugs, which can help soothe their fears. Show children how to breathe slowly, which can also help them feel safe.

If children must stay home or the program is closed for a long time, you can share these tips with families:

• Remember that children’s responses to stressful events are different from adults’ responses. Some children may be irritable or clingy, demand extra attention, or have difficulty with self-care, sleeping, and eating. Returning to old behaviors or developing new concerning behaviors are natural responses. Adults can help by showing empathy and patience and by calmly setting limits when needed.
• Support children’s well-being during stressful times by reassuring them they are safe and by keeping consistent, predictable meal and bedtime routines and daily schedules for learning and play.
• Help children regulate their emotions by validating their feelings and encouraging self-regulation activities.
• Use calming phrases and techniques to encourage children’s ability to calm themselves.
• Keep children busy by giving families ideas for safe activities (e.g., outside play, blocks, modeling clay, art, music, games). When children are bored, they may worry more and show concerning behaviors. Ask children to brainstorm other creative ideas.

Last Updated: June 5, 2025