Comfort Strategies

During tough times and stressful situations, children may feel as if their worlds have been turned upside down. But you can create a calm, familiar environment and build children’s sense of security. 

Provide Reassurance 

Assure children they are safe and cared for: “I know this is hard, but you are very brave, and people can be brave and scared at the same time. We’ll get through this together.” Hold hands and hug often! 

Model Healthy Ways of Coping 

In tough times, children look to adults to see how they should feel and react, so staying calm as much as possible helps. Let them know that it’s okay to have all different types of feelings, and that they can always talk to a parent or another grown-up about what they’re thinking and feeling. Saying something like, “I get scared/worried sometimes, too, and I know it can feel icky inside,” can help justify their feelings and reassure them that they’re not alone. 

Stick to Routines 

There’s comfort in the familiar! Choose one simple daily routine that children can look forward to, such as singing the same lullaby at night. If children are struggling to carry out daily routines, it might help to hear something like, “Let’s put your worry on the shelf while we [take our afternoon walk, read a bedtime story, etc.]. Then we’ll pick it up again and talk about it.” Setting aside a worry or fear and then talking about it later can help put it into perspective and give children time to relax and enjoy something they like.