Reflective Parenting by Curious Neuron How to talk to children about the Los Angeles wildfires with Dr. Tamara Soles
Open communication is essential for helping children process their fears and feelings regarding crises like the LA wildfires. Parents should approach conversations with empathy, reinforcing feelings of safety and community support while recognizing their own emotional well-being.
Today, I chatted with Dr. Tamara Soles to get some advice for how to speak to kids that were impacted by the fires or those that are hearing about it.
• Importance of initiating conversations about crises with children
• Assessing children's current understanding of events
• Fostering empathy through reflective questioning
• Addressing children's fears by discussing safety measures
• Balancing parental emotions with children's emotional needs
• Engaging in community service to help children process feelings
• Recognizing signs of trauma in children’s behavior
• Establishing routines to provide normalcy
• Prioritizing self-care for parents during challenging times
Here is a growing directory of 500+ providers offering pro bono services for individuals impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1uAMVz8TQMzShQeuEA6kmOP0jyRN7qe1Iiqb6JOLTPqg/edit?gid=303232729#gid=303232729
Helpful article in the LA Times:
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-01-11/kids-wildfire-losses-experts-eaton-palisades-fire
Listen to my conversation with research Dr. Susan King (from McGill University) to learn how natural disasters can impact expecting moms and their babies (and how to mitigate the stress).
https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/curious-neuron-with-dr-cindy-hovington/id1440533170?i=1000502669619
Do you find yourself reacting in ways you wish you could change when your child is upset? Learn how to stay calm, manage your emotions, and respond in a way that actually helps your child.
Get your FREE emotional awareness training for parents and kids below (comes with a poster, workbook and video):
https://tremendous-hustler-7333.kit.com/84371dc0b2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4iEbFRZ5QQ&t=12s
Or purchase our course, join the next 8 week group cohort in April 2026 below: