Hurricanes can be a terrifying experience for younger ones. Preparation is key to the safety of your family. But even if you have the best impact windows and doors in the business, this will not help at all if your children do not understand how to be safe during a hurricane. Therefore we have put together a guide to help you help your children learn about hurricanes. 

Consider the Age of your Children When Discussing Hurricane Safety

Explaining a hurricane to a toddler is going to be a very different experience than explaining it to a 10-year-old. So, you need to take your child’s age into consideration when finding the best way to explain hurricane safety. 

When Teaching Toddlers About Hurricane Safety

Toddlers are wild, crazy and fun. But they are also impressionable. When you make learning fun, they will take more on board and remember it for longer. 

Be understandable.

If you child is still young, be sure to use words that they can understand. The word hurricane, for instance, can be a bit of a mouthful for them. Instead, talk about a Storm or Bad Wind. The easier the words are, the easier it will be for them to understand. 

Be interactive. 

Sitting and talking is not going to get the message across. Use videos, drawings, and colors to get your point across. Don’t dismiss any questions or wild fantasies that they may have. Remember, toddlers have vivid imaginations. Instead of dismissing the idea that they can ride the wind all the way to Australia, try calmly explaining that the wind can cause hurt. 

Create a plan of action.

Don’t simply tell your child what to do if a hurricane comes. Take them outside. Explain what they need to do if a hurricane starts. Then practice. Have someone play as the wind, have someone else playing as debris or rain, then go through the steps with your child of getting inside the home and to safety. 

Explain the Precautions

While some families may choose to leave this step until the children are older, there are many reasons to explain the precautions you take against Hurricanes at a younger age.

If you are using hurricane shutters, for example, kids may choose to swing on them or place something in the way that makes it difficult to close them in a hurry. It can then be explained to them what the hurricane shutters are for. 

If you have impact windows it is always important to explain why we don’t open windows during a hurricane. 

Repeat the Process.

This is not a one time job. Every year, before hurricane season starts, run through the details with your child again. Practice getting to safety with them. You will need to alter your approach to make it more age-appropriate as the years go by. 

When Teaching Older Young Ones About Hurricane Saftey

By older young ones, we are talking about kids that are not quite teenagers, or maybe only just a teenager. Because every child matures at a different rate it is up to you, the parent, to determine when to begin implementing the following steps. 

Be Age Appropriate

If this is the first time you have had to explain hurricanes to your child, be sure to not treat them like toddlers. You want them to understand the weight of the situation, but you also don’t want to bury them with worry. 

Use videos, leaflets, and conversations to explain the effects of a hurricane. Remove the worry of hurricanes by showing them how they can help. 

Get them Involved.

A child who has a purpose is more comfortable when dealing with tough situations. This is true of hurricanes. By giving them a small measure of responsibility, they are less likely to panic as they will have something to focus on. This could be as simple as making sure the dog is inside the house or counting everyone when we are inside to make sure we are all there. Alternatively, if they are older and wiser, it could be a job to take their siblings inside and make sure they are safe. 

As They Get Older Continue to Teach them About Hurricane Safety

The older and more responsible your children get, the more you can educate them about hurricane safety. 

Consider discussing the following with them:

• Impact Windows and Hurricane Shutters. 
• How to know if there’s a hurricane coming. 
• How to defend your own home against hurricanes.
• Home insurance and how hurricanes can affect it. 

These are things that can help your child be better prepared for dealing with Hurricane Season when they get a place of their own. The more they know the better prepared they are, so don’t shy away from hurricane conversations thinking that they don’t need to know yet. 

We’re Here to Help With Your Hurricane Safety

If you need to know more about hurricane safety or would like to have impact windows and doors installed to protect your family from the next hurricane season contact G&R Impact Windows and Doors at (305) 925-0818.