Helping your kids through this
Kids feel disasters too, even the ones who seem fine, and even the ones who didn't lose a home. Here's the good news first: most kids are resilient, and most of these reactions ease with time and steady support. You don't have to be a therapist. You are the most important thing your kid has right now.
What helps, at every age
- Reassure them they're safe now, and that the immediate danger has passed.
- Keep routines, or rebuild small ones. Predictable days help kids feel safe.
- Limit how much fire news and social media they see. Repeated scary images make it worse.
- Let them talk, draw, or play it out, and don't rush them.
- Take care of yourself too. Kids read your calm, so a steadier you is one of the best tools they have.
Then choose your child’s age, or jump to “When your kid needs more help.”
Start here
By age
Getting more help
Caring for yourself too? See Self care.