Kids Ministry

Dedicated to helping Kids Ministry leaders in their mission of making disciples

  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Training
  • Events
  • Team
  • Resources
Training
March 3, 2010

Helping Kids Deal with Crisis

By Bill Emeott

Over the past month our children have heard about, seen pictures of, and most likely worried about the devastating earthquakes that have hit Haiti and Chile.  Below are some points that I encourage you to use with parents of the kids in your ministry.

 

Be Talkative:  Talk with your children. Include them, when appropriate, in family discussions regarding the crisis. Find opportunities to talk to your child about the situation (around the dinner table, when “tucking” in your child for bed, in the car while driving to school). Most children are talkative by nature. Take advantage of this time in their lives to share.

 

Be Honest:  Tell the truth. Don’t deny that something bad has happened. Be honest with yourself. Recognize your own feelings. Understand that you have feelings regarding the crisis. Know how you feel and understand that your feelings play a part in shaping your child’s feelings.

 

Be Respectful:  Ask your child how he/she feels about the crisis and be respectful of his/her feelings. Give your child permission to feel the feelings which they have.

 

Be Age-Appropriate:  Each child develops at different rates. You know your child and their level of understanding. Some guidelines to follow might include the avoidance of euphemisms and complicated explanations. Answer questions asked but be careful not to overload your child with too much information. If they want to know and you’ve created an atmosphere of freedom to ask, they will!

 

Be Reassuring:  Reassure your children that it’s going to be okay. Assure them that they are safe. Many children may begin to fear leaving your presence. Honestly assure them that their feelings are important and that you and those to whom you entrust them are concerned for their safety.

 

Be Hopeful:  Support your child as they work through the emotions of the crisis. Expect them to be concerned but offer them the hope that we have as Christians. Explain that God is in control. He can use the crisis for His good. We may not understand His ways but we can trust His heart. Pray with your child. Teach them to seek God for their strength, especially in crisis.  Allow this time to grow them as followers of Jesus.

 

BOTTOM LINE:  World crises and natural disasters can be very difficult for children.

 

Allow this time to bring you closer to Him as your Deliverer and Savior. Allow God to use this time to bring you closer as a family.  Use these teachable moments to demonstrate that the faith we teach is real.

 

You may also like -

  • Helping Hurting Kids and Their FamiliesHelping Hurting Kids and Their Families
  • Grief in Times of CrisisGrief in Times of Crisis
  • Dealing with Kids During CrisisDealing with Kids During Crisis
  • KidMin During CrisisKidMin During Crisis

Filed Under: Training March 3, 2010

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Subscribe to Podcast

Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsAndroidby EmailRSS

Sign Up to receive the free Kids Ministry 101 Magazine!

Get the Digital Magazine Get the Print Magazine
Want to write for Lifeway Kids?

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 1,210 other subscribers

@LifeWayKids
FOLLOW
My Tweets

All Ministry Sites

Leadership
Kids Ministry
Student Ministry
Groups Ministry
Women’s Ministry
Worship Ministry

Digital Resources

Ministry Grid
Lifeway Worship
Digital Church
KidEvent Pro
MyCurriculum Manager
Simulcast Manager
Lifeway Reader eBooks
Generosity
WORDsearch
SmallGroup.com

Lifeway Network

Lifeway Research
B&H

Copyright © 2021 · Lifeway Christian Resources · All Rights Reserved