Child therapists reveal how fire victims can help their children cope with trauma

Therapists say they survived California wildfires they can help their children heal from the trauma of leaving everything they know by continuing with their daily routines, providing an empathetic ear and strengthening their security.

While the fire crews continue to put out the fire wildfires engulfing Los Angeles CountyOfficials said on Saturday that at least 30 people were still missing, while two additional deaths brought the toll to 27.

“Many children are dealing with the devastation of the wildfires in California. As parents and caregivers, it is critical to support children during this crisis, giving them space to share what they saw, heard and felt,” Dr. Cindy Davis, clinical director of Positive Development in Pasadena, Calif., told Fox News Digital. “Encourage them to share their experiences and be open to any form of communication. Some may repeat the same story, while others may prefer not to talk much. Let them choose when and how to share. Consider your child’s experience with a disaster – whether are evacuating, seeing houses on fire, or witnessing fear? Use these prompts to guide the conversation. Especially for younger children, pay attention to the themes in their play because they often reflect their concerns and help them process their feelings.”

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dr. Gail Saltz, associate professor of psychiatry at New York Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell School of Medicine, explained that the fires caused “enormous and permanent loss” for both adults and children.

“The most important thing for children now is to feel that they and you, their parents, are safe,” she advised. “Parents should often explain, ‘We’re safe because’ or ‘here’s our safety plan’ or ‘we need to get our safety plan going and when we get there, I can answer any questions you have.’ Expect and respond to repeated concerns about yourself and your loved ones. Try to do nice things together showing that it feels safe for all of you, like playing a game, regardless of whether you’ve lost it, that you’re together and that home is where you are.”

One way to help children feel safe in the middle the chaos of relocation it allows them to express their preferences about what they can control, like a new room, school or activity, therapist Samantha Silverman, LCSW, told Fox News Digital.

“Plan activities together to explore the new city and make it feel like home,” suggested Silverman. “Maintain consistent daily routines to provide a sense of stability and security. Include comforting traditions or activities that remind them of home, such as family meals or bedtime rituals. Help your child adjust by exploring a new city together, visiting local parks, schools or libraries. Encourage participation in community or extracurricular activities to help them make new friends and build a sense of belonging.”

La Jolla, Calif., child psychiatrist Josh Feder, Ph.D. med., who explained that children “need extra support” at the time, advised parents to make sure their children are in a safe place with clean air and warned them not to watch news reports about fires near children.

“Use alerts on your phone to get important updates,” he said. “It’s important to tell the truth, but not make it too scary. For example, ‘Our house burned down, but we’re safe now.’ Our job is to protect children and make them feel as safe as we can!”

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Saltz explained that while wildfires create a stressful situation for both adults and children, they can overcome hardships.

“The human capacity for resilience is such that most of these people will eventually work through these losses to rebuild their lives, but the more coping tools and support they can get, the more likely it is and the less painful it will be,” she said.

Fox News Digital’s Stephen Sorace contributed to this report.