How to talk to children about the Los Angeles wildfires with Dr. Tamara Soles

Send us a text Open communication is essential for helping children process their fears and feelings regarding crises like the LA wildfires. Parents should approach conversations with empathy, reinforcing feelings of safety and community support while recognizing their own emotional well-being. Today, I chatted with Dr. Tamara Soles to get some advice for how to speak to kids that were impacted by the fires or those that are hearing about it. • Importance of initiating conversations about crises with children • Assessing children"s current understanding of events • Fostering empathy through reflective questioning • Addressing children"s fears by discussing safety measures • Balancing parental emotions with children"s emotional needs • Engaging in community service to help children process feelings • Recognizing signs of trauma in children’s behavior • Establishing routines to provide normalcy • Prioritizing self-care for parents during challenging times Here is a growing directory of 500+ providers offering pro bono services for individuals impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1uAMVz8TQMzShQeuEA6kmOP0jyRN7qe1Iiqb6JOLTPqg/edit?gid=303232729#gid=303232729 Helpful article in the LA Times: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-01-11/kids-wildfire-losses-experts-eaton-palisades-fire Listen to my conversation with research Dr. Susan King (from McGill University) to learn how natural disasters can impact expecting moms and their babies (and how to mitigate the stress). https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/curious-neuron-with-dr-cindy-hovington/id1440533170?i=1000502669619 Get your FREE 40-page workbook called Becoming a Reflective Parent: https://tremendous-hustler-7333.kit.com/reflectiveparentingworkbook Join our membership, The Reflective Parent Club to learn how to manage your emotions and model this for your child. https://curiousneuron.com/join-our-club/ Please leave a rating for our podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! Email me at info@curiousneuron.com and I will send you our most popular guide called Meltdown Mountain. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curious_neuron/ Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theemotionallyawareparent/ THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS! Get some discounts using the links below Thank you to our main supporters the Tanenbaum Open Science Institute at The Neuro and the McConnell Foundation. BetterHelp is the world’s largest therapy service, and it’s 100% online. Click the link below to get 15% off the first month of therapy http://www.betterhelp.com/curiousneuron