When The Ground Shakes: Earthquake Preparedness Book for Physical and Emotional Health of Children

Preparing children for an unpredictable event, such as an earthquake, is one of the best ways to reduce trauma and maintain children’s mental and emotional well-beings. We combined our experiences as a Marriage & Family Therapist and School Counselor to write this book, both specializing in work with young children for more than 20 years. Our first-hand experience helping children cope with traumas, including natural disasters, is what opened our eyes to the need for this type of self-help guidance book. This book was written to introduce the concept of an earthquake, and to provide children with tools to stay safe and cope during the event. There are books available that teach children what to do during an earthquake. The purpose of our book is to address children’s emotional well-beings and to help reduce their anxiety and fear. Children learn through repetition. We recommend reading and practicing the skills introduced in this book on a regular basis. This book can also be used post-earthquake to help kids cope with their emotions and help them make sense of what has happened. When children know what to do, they are less likely to be scarred by the traumatic event.

We hope adults and children find this book informative and fun, even in the most stressful times.

Warmly,

Irit Almog & Shoshana Wheeler