Talking With Young Children About Earthquakes and Other Natural Disasters

Young children are very concrete thinkers. When talking about earthquakes, storms, or wildfires, focus on what they can observe and do: What might they see, hear, or feel? Where should they go? Who will help them? Simple, honest explanations help children understand without overwhelming them with frightening details.

Keep instructions simple and practice together.

For an earthquake indoors, practice “Drop, Cover, and Hold On.” Use short, specific directions: “Get down on your hands and knees. Crawl under this table. Cover your head and neck. Hold on to the table leg.” Practice under a nearby sturdy table, and teach children to stay protected until the shaking stops and the adult caring for them gives them the all clear. Children should not run outside during the shaking.

Show children how your family is prepared.

Children need to feel safe, and reassurance is more meaningful when they can see what you are doing to protect them. Explore your emergency kit together: “Here is our water, a flashlight, and supplies we might need.” Explain that your phone can receive emergency notifications that help adults know what to do. Demonstrate your family’s plan and let children participate—for example, by choosing a small comfort item for the kit. Understanding the plan can give children a reassuring sense of control, without making them responsible for everyone’s safety.

Explain what to do if you need to leave.

You might say, “Sometimes we need to go somewhere safer. When I say it’s time to go, come right away, stay close, and listen to the grown-ups caring for you.” Practice moving quickly but calmly, without stopping to collect toys. Adults should follow official evacuation instructions. During an earthquake, remain protected until the shaking stops, then assess whether it is safer to stay or to leave.

Offer older children a little science.

Let children’s questions guide how much detail you share. For those who wonder how earthquakes happen, try this explanation: Earth’s outermost layer is made of large pieces called tectonic plates, which move slowly. Colliding edges can get stuck along the cracks, called faults. Energy builds up while they are stuck until the edges suddenly slip. That energy travels through the ground and makes it shake.

Above all, leave room for genuine feelings: “It’s okay to feel scared. Sometimes I feel scared too. I’m here with you, and we have a plan to help keep you safe.” We do not need to promise that nothing unexpected will happen. We can offer something more honest and reassuring: caring adults, familiar steps, and a chance to practice together