Comforting Small Children During a Thunderstorm
How to Help Kids Cope with Violent Weather’s Sights and Sounds
Firm believers in tough love and letting little ones “self-soothe” may think twice when kids cry out during a storm. Bursts of thunder, zaps of lightning, and even hard-driving rain can awaken fears that won’t go away without reassurance from a grown-up.
All the same, nobody wants to stay up all night hushing and hugging a scared child. Here are a few simple methods for calming toddlers or even older kids who still get upset by ominous nocturnal noises.
Spark the Imagination: Create Amusement
There’s no denying the spectacle of a thunderstorm, so turn it into an exciting event. That doesn’t mean stir up a big commotion or dance around the room. The objective is to calm, after all. But it is possible to reduce a storm’s impact using a modest and very brief show business act – one that begins, like any good show, with bright lights.
When lightning strikes, quietly say, “Look, there’s the spotlight! Step right up, ladies and gentlemen, step right up. Ta-da!” (Any reasonable variation of this short routine will work.) Obviously, the idea requires a little time to introduce, but after a few rounds of lightning, most kids will catch on.
Thunderous Applause: Build a Back-and-Forth Dialog
Since thunder usually follows a bolt of lightning by few seconds, the quirky line of dialog described above will culminate in “applause” from the skies. When the thunder rolls, it’s time to clap (gently but genuinely) and whisper, “Hooray!”
It won’t be a cut-and-dried process. Sooner or later, though, children will play along, clapping as thunder arrives. To boost the Vegas-style tone, parents can offer an Elvis-like rejoinder: “Thank you, thank you very much.” Then, with adult encouragement, it’s the child’s turn to be the star. Give young ones a well-deserved round of applause when thunder caps off their little speeches.
A Sprinkling of Laughter: Reinforce Confidence
Even if it comes as a sudden downpour, rainfall can be incorporated into the activity. With a hand held up to one ear, softly say, “Listen! Do you hear that? It’s the rain laughing!” Then clarify with: “The rain thinks your jokes are really funny! Ha ha ha! You told a good story and the rain likes it!”
Anyone who wishes to add a religious or spiritual dimension to the game shouldn’t be dissuaded from doing so. To say, “God’s clapping for you,” or “God really liked your story,” is a matter of personal discretion for parents, who should know whether or not such concepts will reassure their children.
Short- and Long-Term Results
This strategy won’t immunize children against further fear. They’ll probably want to keep hugging, clapping, and laughing as long as the storm continues. However, if it is implemented over a series of nights (or any stretch of bad weather) the game should begin to add a degree of confidence and even enjoyment in the face of a thunder shower.
Of course, there are no guarantees in parenting. These suggestions depend on a basic ability to comprehend role-playing scenarios, and every child is unique in that area. But, as all start-up parents soon learn, the early imagination is a powerful force. It can come to the rescue in the darkest and most tempestuous hours of anyone’s life.
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