How the Tornado Impacts Kids
By: Gretchen Bolander
Updated: July 21, 2011
Anxiety, depression, and loss of sleep can be just a few of the issues after a tornado - both for adults and kids.
"60 -70 % of children in a natural disaster work thru these in age appropriate manners and do not have long term impairment in function," says Dr. Charles Graves with the Ozark Center.
But for the others, there can be ongoing problems.
The first step is to try and establish a routine.
"For most people, children and adults, routine decreases our anxiety and our worries about the future and allow us to use our brain power to solve other problems."
Transitioning back to school could cause further issues.
Parents can help by practicing for school.
"For example, driving by the school show them how you're going to take them to school, what the school looks like, attending open houses that the school will have will also help the child's anxiety and be able to meet their teacher and know their classroom and how they're going to get to their classrm, all these are important in their routine," Graves says.
