Ash Ash Everywhere!

Who would have thought that the 2020s would be so wild to bring a global pandemic AND a massive volcano eruption, leaving us blanketed in ash and wondering “what’s next?” How’s that for opportunities for vocabulary and conversation building!

We have been doing some major cleaning up over at the clinic to get back to some semblance of “normal,” so that we can welcome more clients back for face to face sessions. We have also been enjoying the opportunity to incorporate the volcano theme (Can you say lava 5 times?) into our therapy activities.

I realised during sessions last week that many of our little ones didn’t know or didn’t understand what was happening around them. They especially didn’t understand why they couldn’t go outside and play. Many parents also expressed concern that they didn’t know how to explain it all to their children, or preferred not to say anything for fear of scaring them.

As I explained to one mother, imagine how it would have felt if we had experienced the darkness and ashfall without having access to media networks or other information outlets to know what was happening. That would have been pretty terrifying in addition to the fear of seeing it all unfold. This is why I have advised parents to find ways to keep children informed as much as possible about what is happening around them. It is also important to remember to keep these explanations suited to their cognitive and language level.

Here are some ways to support children’s understanding during this time:

Use simple language to explain what is happening, terms as simple as “go boom” instead of erupt can help younger children understand more easily.
Remember to talk about the “why” of actions. “The windows are closed because…..,” “We’re covering the car because….” You have to wear your mask because….” “We’re washing off the house because…”
Use visuals to help children understand what you are explaining. Simple clipart images (see below) or even hand drawn pictures can create a visual story to offer support.
Read books and watch videos (Youtube is your friend) about volcanoes together. This also creates more opportunities for language learning and vocabulary development. Who would have thought that the word “ash” would be such a big part of our everyday routine vocabulary!
Give your child ways to talk about feelings. It’s okay to say “This is scary,” or “I feel sad that I can’t go outside.” or “This makes me upset.” With older children you can brainstorm together to find ways to help you feel better.
Even though it may not feel like it, use language to reassure your children that there’s an end point to the current situation, and we’ll soon get past it, for them to be able to get back to doing all the things they love.

Let us know if there’s anything else you’re doing at home to keep your little ones informed. And remember, hang in there, you got this!

Volcano visual

Volcano Conversations