ANSWERS: 7
  • Play the Tuba.
  • I note that you list your home as the Florida Keys. Has the kid been traumatized by past hurricanes, or anything like that? It could be PTSD. If there is not some history, a 12-year old should not be terrified by thunderstorms. Either way, I would suggest some counseling sessions
  • tell them Gods bowling and let them stick him stick out, he's just too old to be babying about storms
  • Here are a couple of really good articles on why children may be afraid of stormy weather and how to comfort and explain the natural forces to them. There's about 3 pages to each article...but full of good sense information. I hope your friend finds them helpful. How can parents help their children cope during storms? http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/239177/help_your_children_cope_during_storms.html?cat=25 Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/238488/taming_the_tempest_how_to_help_your_pg3.html?cat=25 Taming the Tempest: How to Help Your Children Cope During Frightening Storms
  • My older son had a major fear of storms when he was a kid. So what we did was get books and study up on the scientific reasons why weather does what it does, what lightning is and how it works, etc. Once he understood it, he became more interested in it than afraid.
  • I would have a talk with him ahead of time to make sure he was not in a terrifying hurricane or tornado and picked up adult fears. In that same talk, I would explain what a storm is, how it will be approached in the future and what he is to do. No holding the child, but he can sit on the couch next to someone. Plan regular activities, and do them with or without him. He can run around screaming but pay no attention to him or the storm. If he improves even a tenth over his earlier behavior, after the storm is over and he is calm, congratulate him. Do not belittle him, even if he falls back, just congratulate him when he begins to overcome his fears. If the family cannot do this, then therapy.
  • Do you remember how Maria calmed the children in the movie, "The Sound of Music"? She said to think of pleasant things and singing. You could get the family together and tell stories to get his mind off the storm. I'm really afraid of tornado weather and what I have to do to calm myself down is to get a chair and get in the closet with a flashlight, when you hear the wind ripping the roof off the house and trees being uprooted in the yard. I'm sure that's how he feels. http://www.popmodal.com/video/934/The-Sound-of-Music-My-Favorite-Things

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