Children and the fear of storms

This is a real case, about a consultation that a mother, worried about her son's reaction to storms, made to Mayo Clinic.

Is your child experiencing the same thing? Don't worry, find out everything you need to know here:
“My 6-year-old son gets very anxious and agitated whenever there is a storm.

I have noticed that this behavior has become more frequent since last year when we were forced to evacuate for a few days due to the threat of a hurricane.

How can I help my child overcome this fear of storms? Whenever we leave the house, he asks about the weather, and when the sky darkens, he finds out if we should seek shelter to be safe.

Should I be worried and make an appointment with a counselor?
ANSWER: It's common for children that age to be afraid of storms. Having to evacuate the house because of a hurricane was undoubtedly very difficult for him, but there are steps you can take to ease his anxiety. If your child's fear of storms doesn't seem to be improving, or if the anxiety starts to interfere with daily life, consider talking to a therapist or counselor.

It is normal for a child to seek comfort from their father or mother during a storm.
Storms are frightening and can be very difficult for children who are
They are particularly sensitive to noise, light, thunder, and lightning. For some children who are very afraid of storms, the problem doesn't stem so much from the storm itself, but from the anticipation of it. This anticipation leads to continuous stress and anxiety.

Like her son, and according to her own description, many children don't want to leave the house when they think they might be caught in a storm and may avoid any activity that involves going outside. This kind of stress interferes with other aspects of their lives, such as schoolwork, because fear makes it difficult for them to concentrate. It can also be challenging for parents when their child constantly wants to reassure themselves that there won't be a storm.

There are several things you can try to lessen your child's fear.
Some children find comfort in knowing the plan for staying safe during a storm. Talk to your child about what the family did in the past and how it kept them safe. Tell them what you plan to do during the storm, even if you're outside or away from home.

Reassure him by saying that you will do everything necessary to keep him safe. If the child has already had a frightening experience, such as an evacuation, talk about how scared it was, how the family handled it, and explain what will be done if the situation happens again.

Knowing things helps, so books, websites, and other resources about the weather are a good source where your child can learn more. Knowing about the weather and understanding why storms occur can lessen a child's anxiety. Just be careful to choose sources that focus on the storms themselves, rather than the destruction they cause. Also, if you want to stay informed about a storm that might affect you, be mindful of where your child is and what they might hear.

Try to help him reduce his "safety behaviors," which are
These are things they do to feel a little better, but that don't actually keep them safe. These behaviors might include checking the weather forecast or asking if they're going to seek shelter. When children rely on these behaviors, they don't realize they can manage their anxiety about the unknown; but as these behaviors decrease, children learn that they can cope with not knowing exactly what will happen and that things usually turn out all right.
As you look for ways to help your child manage their fear, remember that it's important to support and encourage them. Never punish or belittle your child for being afraid.

If despite your efforts the fear continues, worsens or becomes distressing for you, then it is time to seek professional help.
Therapy for fear of storms focuses on helping children confront their fear. It can begin with simply talking about storms. Then, it can progress to reading stories about storms and watching videos of tornadoes, hurricanes, and other major storms. At some point, it may include taking the child outside in the rain or watching a storm develop from a sheltered window.

Obviously, one of the problems is that the therapist can't conjure up a storm for the therapy session; however, a plan and a role-playing exercise can be done to show what the children can do to handle the storm, because that gives them the confidence that they will know what to do when one actually occurs. Helping children gradually confront their fear in this way has been shown to be effective in overcoming anxiety and excessive worry.

Written by Mayo Clinic staff