Seeing your house get damaged, perhaps due to the weather or an errant driver, is never a fun experience. Maybe you think you’ve planned for most realistic scenarios, then you see the local river flood higher than ever before, causing your foundations to be damaged. There’s always something.
It can be hard to see this as an adult, but when children see their safe space changed, it can be genuinely unsettling for them. Their bedroom might be off limits now, or their favorite toys could be damaged. Perhaps understandably, their whole routine gets thrown off completely while you recover.
You may be dealing with insurance claims and repair estimates, but your children are trying to understand why their world suddenly feels different. They might worry about whether their house will be the same again, if their things are gone forever, or if this kind of thing will happen again. If they become clingy, or begin acting out, you may need to give them extra patience while they work through what’s happening.
Thankfully, this is a good parenting moment. Let’s discuss how to deal with it:
Be Honest, But Age Appropriate
Children will notice stress and uncertainty, so trying to hide what’s happening isn’t worth the effort. They can tell something is wrong and their imagination often fills in the gaps with ideas that are worse than reality. You might explain that the house got damaged, but that everyone is safe and there are people whose job it is to fix these kinds of problems.
If they’re very young, you could say the house got hurt but it can be made better, just like how they get better after a scrape. Older kids can handle more details about what happened and what the repair process looks like. The important thing is letting them ask questions and giving them truthful answers that don’t confuse them with adult concerns like your insurance claim feeling like a frustrating process.
Maintain Routines Where Possible
Kids find comfort in routine, so keeping whatever predictability you can helps them feel like some things are still normal. Maybe bedtime stories happen in a different room now, or breakfast is at a relative’s house, but still keeping such familiar activities gives them something stable to hold onto.
If you’re staying somewhere else temporarily, try to bring along their favorite stuffed animal, blanket, or other comfort items. Setting up a space that feels like theirs, putting up some of their artwork, or letting them arrange their toys can help them see this as a fun detour more than a real life impact for you.
Focus On Safety & Recovery
Children need to hear that everyone is safe and that the situation is being handled by capable adults. You might talk about how the house protected everyone during whatever happened, and now it’s getting the care it needs to be strong again. This helps them see the house as something that can be restored rather than something that’s permanently broken.
Let them be involved in age appropriate ways if they want to help. Maybe they can help pack some belongings or choose paint colors for their room once repairs begin. You could point out the storm damaged roof repair taking shape when you drive past on the school run. It’s a nice way to involve them.
With this advice, you’ll be sure to reassure your children well, even if your house is damaged.
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