Fireworks: 6 Tips to Help Kids who are Scared

04 Jul Fireworks: 6 Tips to Help Kids who are Scared

Are your kids scared of fireworks?

While the beautiful explosion of colors in the sky are wonders for all to see, kids are often very scared of fireworks because of the loud boom that accompanies them. Have no fear- Here are 6 tips to help with fireworks fright.

6 Tips to Help Kids who are Scared of Fireworks

1. Be a sound detective:

   Many kids, whether they have sensory processing struggles or not, will often be scared when they hear an unexpected sound. It could be a creak in the floor. Or, it could be a cabinet closing, causing them to wonder, “What was that?!” When they discover what is causing the sound, kids will find that there is nothing to fear. Take a walk in your neighborhood or around your home and listen for sounds to determine where they start. Once they find the sounds’ origins, they will understand the unexpected noises better.

2. Ask questions/fact check:

   Fears and anxiety often come from the unknown. At North Shore Family Services, we often refer to this as the “what ifs” that may or may not be likely to happen. Ask your child if the “what ifs” are likely to happen. What if it’s a dinosaur coming to eat us? What if it’s a HUGE bowling ball coming right for us? Come up with silly answers to help ease their worries.

3. Count:

   Did you know that after the sparkle of the fireworks hit the sky, we often will hear the BOOM about 1 second later? Here’s a trick: count one second with your child using “one one thousand” to see if that’s right. The boom will be more predictable and often calm your child’s nerves. If your kids hear a boom and don’t see the fireworks, you can help them by letting them know that the firework probably went off about a second before then and maybe it didn’t go off high enough in the sky to see it. You can refer to it as a “dud” firework. “Bummer, Emma, we missed that one.”

4. Anticipate the big noise and match it:

   Challenge your kids to be louder than the fireworks. Teach them to roar like a lion or drum like a drummer when they anticipate the loud firework. By teaching them this trick, you empower them to take control of their fears!

5. Weighted blankets/big hugs:

   Kids like to feel secure when they are scared, so wrap them in a big hug or blanket while watching the fireworks together. If you can make your kids feel more secure, who wouldn’t try that?

6. Noise canceling headphones:

   Sometimes, the beauty of the fireworks for some young ones does not outweigh the scary sounds for them. Noise canceling headphones can help tremendously. We recommend one from The Sensory Kids Store, locally in Wilmette.

Dori J. Mages, MSW, LCSW

Dori has provided therapeutic services to children, adolescents, adults, and families since 1994 in several areas of social work including foster care, schools, hospitals, and private practice. She earned her Master of Social Work from The University of Illinois at Chicago’s Jane Addams College of Social Work in 1997 and her Bachelor of Science in psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

She is an Amazon best-selling author and a professional speaker who has been interviewed on ABC, NBC, various podcasts, and radio shows as an expert discussing therapeutic topics and her published works.

Dori offers speaking presentations on various therapy-related topics including, but not limited to anxiety, depression, ADHD, executive functioning, life transitions, effective communication, parenting strategies, work/life integration, and even staying sane while staying informed. She also speaks to businesses and business owners about the importance of hiring for company cultural fit, networking, leadership, and business growth. As a multi-location private therapy practice owner, she provides a culture of accountability, compassion, and creativity, emphasizing the importance of collaboration (with client consent) with parents, teachers, and other professionals to provide the most beneficial services to achieve maximum results for all clients to translate to every aspect of their lives.

As a mother of three, she knows the excitement and challenges of navigating parenting, behavioral and emotional distress, social pressures and rejection, academic successes and struggles, and identity formation. Dori is passionate about providing clients with the tools they need to navigate the challenges they face now to improve their quality of life long after therapy ends.