What to do with an 8 year old boy who seems extremely panicky over the impending

1. 83

   Keeley Sheaposted 13 years ago

   What to do with an 8 year old boy who seems extremely panicky over the impending hurricane in CT?

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2. 72

   psychicdog.netposted 13 years ago

   stay calm yourself. make sure your radio and mobile phone batteries are good/backup. Explain the strongest room in the house is the bathroom so if the wind gets really high that's a good place to stay in.

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3. 81

   J.S.Matthewposted 13 years ago

   As I am from Mass, I try to comfort, yet "toughen-up" my kids. Yes, it can be scary, but if you are prepared then you can accept this as part of New England life. There have been more Hurricanes here in the last 1,000 years than most of our ages combined. Reassure that everything will be OK. Property may get damaged, but the Soul and the will to live is hard to break.
   
   JSMatthew~

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4. 70

   Allen Williamsposted 13 years ago

   I would reassure him that it is ok to be scared.  Many adults are scared but we can reduce our risk of being hurt by preparing.  Review with him how you prepared, such as having batteries for flashlights, or portable radios, keeping your clothing and shoes handy so you know right where they are in case you need to move fast.  Work out where you will go if the wind gets too bad, such as in the basement if you have one, or if not, he can lay in the bathtub for some protection, or stand in an archway of a door.  Assure him that you will stay together so if it does get too bad that you are with him to protect him the best that you can.  Let him know that the hurricane has been downgraded slightly but still downgraded and that is a good sign.  I believe the greatest thing though is letting him know that you are also scared and that is ok.  People get scared but as long as they work out a plan and stick together that you will get through it.  Other than that I don't know what else you can do.

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   RTalloniposted 13 years ago

   Some good advice coming in. I would also try to make waiting out the storm some special family time--bake a batch of cookies, maybe interview each other on video about the weather news and about what you plan to do after the storm passes.   
   
   I was 4 years old living in a wood frame home in the Florida countryside when Donna came rocking through.  I remember being with family during the storm, and during the calm eye of the storm being outside with my neighbors for a very short time when everyone checked on each other, then being with my family in the storm again.  I learned storms happen in life, and I remember a sense of feeling older.  I don't remember the fear, but I probably had some.  Tell your son that today I am  writing for HP . 

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6. 0

   Princess Pittposted 13 years ago

   I heard there's a quake and hurricane circling the US ....it's scary when they show the picture by a satellite...
   
   But i think people there are getting experienced every year of destruction, so they learned and this time they should be prepared.
   
   Currently, here in the Philippines....we too have an abnormal weather,  it rains for a week now..., and we have heavy rains since yesterday, but our weatherman says that the typhoon won't reach land.
   
   Well i hope so, since we were already struck by some fierce typhoon last month.
   
   Whatever happen you have to stay calm in front of your children, even if it's the end of the world, the time you spent panicking use it to think instead.

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   wildove5posted 13 years ago

   I agree with all of the above, however I firmly believe in the art of distraction.  When I was little an experienced my first hurricane my mother actually made it fun, we had a hurricane party, we played bored games and cards, we ate junk food the whole time, and we told funny stories and laughed. We even made forts in the living room with sheets and made shadow figures with our flash lights.  If you run around in a frenzy gathering supplies and disrupting the normal household routines your kids will feel it.  I would also turn the Tv off when the weather men are getting all fired up with their reports. Lastly, explaining to your anxious little one that your all going on an adventure and simply educate him that a hurricane is just a big wind storm, and he sees your easy demeanor  he may just loose some of his anxiousness.  Good luck, have fun, and be safe!

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   thebookmomposted 13 years ago

   try and keep things as routine as possible, let him be part of getting ready and answer him calmly and honestly, find familiar things to keep him busy....hope you are safe and the threat passes quickly

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   thranaxposted 13 years ago

   From now till when I was a young(er) lad I was never afraid of weather. Being in Mass made me not fear anything. Just like me and my father keep telling my mother "its wind and rain and nothing else". This isnt like Hurricane Andrew or Katrina and in no way are we going to get hit nearly as hard as down south. If the kid is 8 turn off the news, put on Spongebob and dont talk about the hurricane, I can almost assure you unless the power goes out he wont even know theres a hurricane outside. I planned on sleeping though it on Sunday .
   
   Sorry to have the only non-mainstream answer and tender love and care but if your not in a flood zone and your house isnt made of paper theres a good chance the worst case scenario is your power will go out for a few hours.
   
   ~thranax~

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10. 83

    Keeley Sheaposted 13 years ago

    Thank you for all the wonderful comments to this question.  I got something out of every single one of them!  I think he will be fine....we will prepare, educate, have fun and do some cool stuff while eating junk food if the power goes out!!!!

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