In case you haven’t heard, a guy named Isaac is thinking of visiting New Orleans. This time of year always puts a sense of dread in my heart. I have evacuated more times than I care to count. We haven’t made a final decision if we are staying or going, but there is nothing wrong with being prepared.

Start to Prepare for a Hurricane

Obviously, some people were a little late preparing. Several bloggers have prepared lists and suggestions for families facing a hurricane that you may find helpful. One thing that I have noticed is that no one really mentioned how to help kids prepare for a hurricane. Storms are scary events and kids might deal with them better if they somewhat know what to expect.

Create a Teachable Moment

Tell your children what to expect from a hurricane. Use appropriate language such as “fast wind” to explain the gales. Don’t downplay the possible aftereffects, but don’t use hyperbole when talking about them. Depending on your child’s age, you may even be able delve into the scientific aspect of hurricanes. 

Give Them an Important Job

Your kids are likely to feel less nervous if you give them something to do when making preparations. Since we needed to tape the windows anyway, I delegated that task to my five and six year olds. I think it’s safe to say my kids are now excited about the hurricane. Yikes! Other things children can do to prepare are:

• Round up all the batteries
• Organize the non perishables
• Count the bottled water

Stock Up on Entertainment

Make sure you have plenty of things to keep your children busy once the power goes out. Some ideas are picture books, coloring books, card games, and small toys. These are small items you can evacuate with in a pinch. A portable DVD player can even be handy–
just make sure to take extra batteries!

I’m not saying going through a hurricane isn’t difficult for children. But sometimes you can make it a bit easier. Just try to keep your kids calm and let them know that you will be there with them.

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