07/08/2025
Our hearts are broken for the families affected by the recent flooding in the Texas Hill Country. As we begin to process the tragedy, parents are faced with helping our children process their grief, confusion and fear.
Many parents struggle with what to say to our children after a traumatic event.
Many parents wonder how best to support our children-especially when we haven’t yet had the chance to fully process the events ourselves.
I would like to extend my deepest sympathy and continued prayers for everyone affected by the floods, especially the children and their families.
I have collected some mental health resources for parents and a few tips that I hope will be a helpful starting point.
1. Tailor the conversation to their age and maturity level.
2. Start the conversation but let your child ask the questions when/if they are ready. Ask them to elaborate on their question so you don’t give a more detailed answer than they need.
3. Answer questions honestly but you don’t have to give every detail if that’s not what they are asking for.
4. “I don’t know” is an acceptable answer especially if you can follow it with either “but I do know that right now you are safe, and I am here with you”
5. Monitor their exposure to news stories - younger kids will do best if parents digest the stories and then tell the kids. Older kids may be better able to handle news stories, but too much can be overwhelming.
6. Trust in the fact that if you care enough about having a supportive and thoughtful conversation with your kids then that’s really all you need.
There are many great online resources if you want to dive deeper into supporting your child or if you think they might need more support.
Some good sources are listed below with Links to specific articles are on my website. (Website link in bio)
❤️ American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry- Disaster Resource Center
www.AACAP.org
❤️ The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
www.NCTSN.com
❤️ The Child Mind Institute- Helping Children Cope after a Traumatic Event
www.childmind.org
