Newswise — LOS ANGELES (March 26, 2025) -- The smoke has cleared, but children affected by Los Angeles’ January wildfires may still be processing their grief. Parents can help by keeping lines of communication open and helping children, tweens and teens feel a sense of control, said , a Cedars-Sinai child and adolescent psychiatrist.
“For very young children, use simple explanations when answering their questions,” Hedrick said. “With older children, you want to be honest and open, directly answering questions and using as simple language as possible.”
Playtime can help children express themselves and feel a sense of control. One example, Hedrick said, is focusing on the positive aspects of knowing fire safety.
“For children who haven’t lost their homes but are affected by the fires, involve them in age-appropriate fire drills,” she said. “Or allow other types of play to be related to the fire, because a lot of times it’s easier for kids to express their feelings through play than by outwardly saying, ‘I'm feeling scared.’”
Building simple forts with pillows, blankets and sheets can be a beneficial play activity for children of all ages—even some middle schoolers, Hedrick said.
“The parent can get inside the fort with them and talk about feelings, as the child may feel safer there,” she said.
It also can be helpful for parents to model how to express feelings.
“A parent could say something like, ‘I noticed I was feeling a little scared today; are you feeling scared?’ This gives their child a chance to talk about feelings of fear, anger, sadness,” she said.
Alternatively, when the child says they’re angry, sad or scared, parents should acknowledge those emotions.
“It’s important not to say, ‘You don't have to feel sad or scared or angry,’” Hedrick said. “It's better to say, ‘Of course, that’s how you’re feeling and it’s perfectly normal. At the same time, there are things we can be grateful for—let’s talk about some of those.’”
Tweens and teens especially may find journaling helpful, as well as art, physical activities and supportive connections with their peers.
“Reminders that there is hope, and that the family will get through this together, are important,” Hedrick said.
Read more on the Cedars-Sinai Blog:
RSS