Unless you live in a cave or in solitary confinement, you have heard about the devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan last week. The photographs and videos of the destruction are enough to give you nightmares. If this natural disaster has upset you, there’s no doubt that they’ve made your children nervous . . . scared, even.

It’s not just the worldwide natural disasters – like Haiti last year, and Japan this year – that can freak our kids out. In the United States, we experience tornados, floods, and hurricanes every year. The destruction is printed in our newspapers, and they are broadcast on TV, YouTube, and online.

While it would be great if we could completely shield our children from the upsetting photographs and images, this isn’t realistic. We live in a technology-driven world.

So how do you talk to your children about natural disasters? How can you explain that natural disasters – tornadoes, earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis – and other scary events happen, while helping your children feel safe? [Read more…] about How to Talk to Your Children about Natural Disasters