Helping Kids Heal After Natural Disasters

1

Welcome to Cool Cat Teacher Talk Episode 6, where we dive into the essential role of teachers, parents, and communities in helping children heal from trauma. This episode focuses on supporting children impacted by recent natural disasters and life’s storms, with insights from leading educators, child psychologists, and leaders who know firsthand the challenges and power of resilience.

Many of us will have students transfer to our schools impacted by Hurricane Helene and the other many storms of this year. But whether you listen to this in 2024 or any other time, this episode is designed to help us be able to help the most vulnerable among us: our children, as we work through these issues and the times.

We learn from a research about advice on returning to school after a natural disaster and other advice from child psychologists.

As you watch, remember that every small act of kindness and support can make a difference in a child’s life. Whether it’s a smile, a listening ear, or a classroom community built on understanding, these moments shape healing. I hope this episode offers both practical strategies and heartfelt encouragement as we support our children.

Additionally, I include information on the things we need to teach children to prepare for a storm that I recorded after Hurricane Michael when we were without power and all of the things I needed to teach children were on my mind. If you want the TV/YouTube version of this, you’ll see the pictures and videos I shot in that season to help develop empathy for what is experienced in storms of this magnitude. If you haven’t experienced a storm but want to help others know how to prepare, this is something you can do by listening to this episode.

In all things, I want this to be helpful. Teaching is a difference making profession from which all other professions are born. Let’s use our time with children well as teachers, coaches, parents – we are all teachers.

Watch This Episode

In today’s episode, we explore:

• Leadership can be lonely (but we have to lead anyway)
• The technology you need in a crisis (from Episode 377, recorded after Hurricane Michael)
• Dr. Steven Berkowitz’s research on trauma recovery for kids (Episode 144)
• Dr. Briana Kurtz’s findings on returning to school after natural disasters like Hurricane Maria (Episode 701)
• How to foster empathy and empowerment in children during hard times, with insights from Joe Mazza (Episode 196)

Excerpts from the Full episode of the 10 Minute Teacher Podcast:

Dr. Steven Berkowitz September 6, 2017 Special Episode “Helping Kids Recover from the Trauma of a Storm” https://www.coolcatteacher.com/trauma /

Dr. Michael Catt March 8, 2018 Not on My Watch “When the Leader Has to Stand Alone” Used with permission from Terri Catt and Sherwood Church https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zl0eXl0XMLM&t

Vicki Davis October 15, 2018 Episode 377 “We were hit by Hurricane Michael: What You Need to Know About Tech When You Have No Technology” https://www.coolcatteacher.com/hit-hurricane-michael-need-know-tech-no-technology/

Dr. Brianna Kurtz September 20, 2020 Episode 701 “Research on Returning to School After Natural Disasters with Dr. Brianna Kurtz” https://www.coolcatteacher.com/research-on-returning-to-school-after-natural-disasters-with-dr-brianna-kurtz/

Joe Mazza November 27, 2017 Episode 196 How Parents and Teachers Can Teach Empathy and Empowerment in the Aftermath of Tragedy https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e196/