Storm Season Strategies: Supporting Kids Manage Weather Anxiety
Queensland’s summer storm season brings afternoon thunderstorms, spectacular lightning displays, and sometimes severe weather events. While many children find storms fascinating, for others, particularly those with sensory sensitivities, they can feel overwhelming.
Recent severe weather across south-east Queensland, including the destructive storms over Christmas 2023 and recent Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, reminded many families just how intense our storm season can be.
If your child finds storms challenging, you’re not alone.
In this article, we share practical strategies and tools to help your family feel prepared for storm season.
Understanding Sensory Experiences During Severe Weather
Storms create a sensory experience unlike anything else. Thunder rumbles and cracks. Lightning flashes brightly. Wind howls around the house. Hail drums on the roof. Air pressure changes. Rain pounds against windows.
For autistic children and children with ADHD, these sensory inputs can feel more intense due to differences in how their brains process sensory information.
Children who have first-hand experience with severe weather events may have additional concerns. Seeing damage to homes, hearing emergency sirens, or losing power during storms can create lasting worry about future severe weather.
This isn’t about children being “difficult” or “overreacting.” Their nervous systems genuinely experience these sensory inputs differently and acknowledging this helps us find effective strategies.
The best time to prepare for storms is when the weather is calm, here are three strategies you can commence today:
Storm Season Strategy #1: Create a storm safety plan together
Involve your child in preparing. Walk through your home and identify the safest room during severe weather. This is usually an interior room away from windows.
Create a “storm kit” that stays in your safe room:
- Comfort items (a cuddle toy or blanket)
- Noise-reducing headphones or Loop earplugs
- Fidget tools or sensory toys
- Torches with fresh batteries
- Activities that don’t require power (books, colouring, puzzles, Rubik’s cube)
- Snacks and water bottle
Practice your storm routine on a sunny day. Make it feel familiar and predictable so when storms do arrive, your child knows exactly what to expect.
Storm Season Strategy #2: Use visual supports
Visual information can reduce anxiety about the unknown.
Show your child the Bureau of Meteorology app or website. Let them see how weather systems move and that storms have a beginning and an end.
Create a visual schedule showing your storm routine:
- Check weather radar
- Gather storm kit
- Move to safe room
- Use regulation tools
- Do calm activities
- Wait for all-clear
- Return to normal routine
Storm Season Strategy #3: Build understanding without increasing fear
Knowledge can reduce anxiety for many children. Explain storm science in age-appropriate ways. Why does thunder happen? What makes lightning? Where does hail come from?
Resources like “Birdie’s Tree” from Children’s Health Queensland offer gentle ways to talk about severe weather with young children.
Focus on the science and safety procedures rather than potential damage or danger.
Supporting regulation during severe weather
When storms arrive, your role is to help your child stay regulated using tools or strategies that are already familiar to them. This is not the time to try something new!
Here are some examples you can explore now, before bad weather hits:
Examples of sensory regulation tools
Different children need different supports:
- Noise-reducing headphones or earplugs block overwhelming sounds
- Weighted blankets or compression vests provide calming deep pressure
- Dim lighting feels less harsh than bright overhead lights
- White noise or familiar music can mask storm sounds
- Sunglasses can reduce the intensity of lightning flashes
Examples of distraction and grounding activities
Help your child focus on something within their control:
- Play familiar board games or card games
- Draw or colour
- Read favourite books together
- Count seconds between lightning and thunder (this teaches the storm’s distance and gives them something to focus on)
- Do deep pressure activities like wall pushes or squeezing stress balls
- Model calm responses during the storm
Children mirror adult emotions. Even if you feel worried, present a steady, calm presence.
Use a reassuring tone. Acknowledge their feelings while providing comfort: “I can see this feels scary. We’re safe in our strong house. Let’s do something together while we wait for it to pass.”
Some well-meaning responses can accidentally increase anxiety:
- Don’t dismiss their concerns (“it’s just a storm, don’t be silly”)
- Avoid repeatedly checking weather updates in front of them
- Don’t show your own anxiety through facial expressions or tone
- Try not to make promises you can’t keep (“nothing bad will happen”)
Stay physically present with them rather than leaving them alone unless they specifically request space.
Building resilience after severe weather
Once the storm has passed, help your child process the experience. Acknowledge their brave coping. “You used your headphones and that really helped you stay calm. I’m proud of how you managed those big feelings.” Talk about which strategies worked well. This builds their confidence for next time. If there was damage in your neighbourhood, validate their concerns while providing reassurance about repair plans and community support. Create opportunities for them to express their feelings through drawing, playing with toy houses and storms, or storytelling. Return to normal routines as quickly as possible. Predictability helps children feel secure again.
Accessing psychology support
For some children, storm anxiety decreases as they develop coping strategies and have positive experiences managing their emotions during severe weather.
Consider reaching out to a psychologist when:
- Storm anxiety interferes with daily activities or school attendance
- Your child shows persistent distress between storm events
- Existing anxiety or sensory challenges are heightened by weather concerns
- You need support developing individualised strategies for your child’s specific needs
Therapy Pro’s psychology team, including generally registered and provisional psychologists working under experienced supervision, provide capacity building support to help children develop skills for managing emotions and responding to challenging sensory experiences.
Our team are available for face-to-face sessions in homes or community settings and telehealth support is available for families in regional areas.
Psychology capacity building interventions can be funded through NDIS Improved Daily Living supports, helping children build independence in managing responses to stressful situations.
If you’d like to discuss psychology support for your child, contact our team to learn more about how we can help.
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Important notice: This information is general in nature and is not intended as personal advice. Individual responses to therapy vary. We recommend consulting with a qualified professional to discuss your specific circumstances and determine the most appropriate treatment approach for your needs.
