Eight Tips (and Books) for Talking to Kids About Japan's Quake  

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By Debra Lau Whelan
March 17, 2011

It's always hard to know what—and how much—to tell children when disaster strikes, and Japan's earthquake and tsunami is no exception.

Japan's quake and tsunami left a trail of devastation. Photos: Courtesy of World Vision.

With round-the-clock news footage on the web and TV, and disturbing photos on the covers of newspapers and magazines, kids are bound to have questions about this tragedy.

World Vision, one of many humanitarian agencies on the ground in the devastated areas, has several suggestions for parents, teachers, and librarians on how to talk with children about what's happening and its impact.

The organization has a staff of 75 based at its Tokyo office, and within 48 hours they dispatched a small team to Sendai to assess the damage and assist the relief efforts, says Geraldine Ryerson-Cruz, a spokeswoman for World Vision, which has worked in Japan for more than two decades and was there for the massive Kobe earthquake in 1995.

The aid group plans to establish one or more Child-Friendly Spaces, safe areas for children affected by disasters, to resume normal activities and experience a sense of structure and security that's often lost following emergency situations.

"Children in Japan are keenly feeling the fear and insecurity that often set in following natural disasters like yesterday's earthquake and tsunami," says World Vision relief manager Kenjiro Ban. "We're planning to see how deep the needs are in the affected areas and begin to bring relief to families. We've seen in Haiti, Chile, and other recent disasters that Child-Friendly Spaces can be a key way to address the unique needs of children who survived but are deeply affected by the experience."

Scores of people were displaced by Japan's worst earthquake.

World Vision's assessment team includes Ban, a veteran aid worker who was part of the aid organization's quake response in Haiti this past year. One concern is how quickly the team will be able to access hard-hit areas, given debris and transportation blockages that may hinder efficient travel.

No doubt kids are asking questions like, "Could this happen to me? What's going to happen to the children? Can I do anything to help the children I see on TV?"

World Vision suggests eight ways to make a tough job a little bit easier.

1. Start by listening.

Find out what the child already knows, then respond in an age-appropriate way. The aim isn't to worry them with the devastating details but to protect them from misinformation they may have heard from friends or disturbing images they may have seen.

2. Provide clear, simple answers.

Limit your answer to the question asked and use simple language.

Rescue workers looking for survivors.

3. If you don't know the answer, admit it.

If kids ask questions that you can't answer, tell them so, and then do some research to try and help them sort it out. If they ask "Why did this have to happen?" don't be afraid to say "I don't know."

4. Follow media reports or online updates privately.

Young children in particular are easily traumatized and seeing or hearing about the horrifying details of the quake may be more than they can handle. Adults, too, should ensure they are dealing with their own emotions by talking to others, so they can continue to respond well to children's needs.

5. Concentrate on making them feel safe.

When tragedies take place, children wonder if the same event could happen in their hometown. If it was an act of nature that can't be repeated in your area, tell them that. Placing themselves in the situation of the victims isn't bad—it is a sign of empathy and an essential life skill, but watch for signs of excessive worrying.

6. Give children creative outlets.

Trees damaged by the tsunami.

Some children may not be prepared to speak about what they have heard but may find drawing or other creative activities helpful to deal with their emotions and stress. Their drawings can be effective points for initiating conversation and introducing them to books.

7. Model involvement and compassion.

Tell your child that, as a family, you will be helping the people in Japan by giving a donation to a reputable charity.

8. Give your child a chance to be involved.

Being involved in the solution will help relieve some of their anxiety. Invite them to contribute to the family's gift by giving something out of their piggy bank.

Here are some titles about Japan and earthquakes worth mentioning. Please feel free to add your suggestions to the comments section.

Chibi: A True Story from Japan (Clarion, 2006) by Barbara Brenner & Julia Takaya. illus. by June Otani.
Gr 2-4-This true story is reminiscent of Robert McCloskey's Make Way for Ducklings (Viking, 1941), but it's set in modern Japan. When a duck builds a nest beside the pool of a downtown office building to raise her young, the citizens of Tokyo became intrigued.

Earthquakes (National Geographic, 2008) by Judy Fradin & Dennis Fradin.
Gr 4-6-This readable and attractive title gives an excellent historical perspective on the topic. Following an introduction that covers the 1964 Alaskan quake, the authors describe the causes of earthquakes, including passages on seismology and plate tectonics, along with the five most deadly aspects of the disasters: building collapse, fire, landslides, avalanches, and tsunamis.

The East-West House: Noguchi's Childhood in Japan (Lee & Low, 2009) by Christy Hale.
Gr 3-6-Isamu Noguchi was a prolific and influential artist whose creative interests ranged beyond sculpture and into scenic and landscape design, architecture, furniture, and art education. This book uses spare writing and textured collage to depict his life as a boy of mixed Japanese and American heritage living in Japan. Hale includes the fact that his mother was abandoned by his father before Noguchi was even born and makes the case that his isolation and difference as a child contributed to his appreciation of the natural world, which in turn informed his work throughout his long career.

I Live in Tokyo (Houghton Harcourt, 2001) by Mari Takabayashi.
Gr 2-5-Seven-year-old Mimiko leads readers through a year highlighting the festivals, activities, food, and her family's daily routine. The name of each month is written along the left border in phonetic Japanese, English, and Kanji (Chinese characters used in Japanese writing).

In Search of the Spirit: The Living National Treasures of Japan (Morrow, 1999) by Sheila Hamanaka & Ayano Ohmi.
Gr 4-8-In the 1950s, the Japanese government, concerned that ancient traditions were dying out in the mechanized postwar era, created a program to honor elders practicing age-old crafts and performing arts. To date, some 100 men and women have been designated Living National Treasures, receiving grants to continue their life's work and to train apprentices. This elegant, beautifully designed book introduces six of these people, all men: a yuzen dyer who decorates silk kimonos, a bamboo weaver, a Bunraku puppet master, a sword maker, a Noh actor, and a potter.

Japan (Scholastic, 2010) by Colleen Sexton.
Gr 2-5-This easy-to-read book opens with a very basic map, and then goes on to describe the country's geography, wildlife, and people. Crisp, colorful photographs are large and plentiful, and the texts provide sidebars of information.

My Japan (Kane Miller, 2009) by Etsuko Watanabe
Gr K-2-Yumi introduces readers to her country via this informational picture book. She starts with her bedroom, detailing her desk, lamp, bed (futon), closet, and school bag, and then takes readers through her kitchen, explaining what she and her family eat, and the bathroom. Small illustrations of the featured items each face a full-page, full-color picture of the room, and children can look for the individual objects in it.

Tsunami! (Philomel, 2009) by Kimiko Kajikawa. illus. by Ed Young.
Gr K-3-Wealthy Ojiisan suffers a feeling of foreboding as he watches colorful rice festival celebrations from his cottage high above his village by the sea. In his mountaintop home, he feels a spongy earthquake and observes bizarre movements in the sea: tsunami! How can Ojiisan alert the townspeople? Young uses a panoply of papers to create collages that tell the story of a sacrifice that saved hundreds of lives.

This article originally appeared in the newsletter Extra Helping. Go here to subscribe.

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