Raising kids in North Carolina, preparing for hurricanes is just a part of everyday life. For kids, though, it can be terrifying, especially at the younger ages when they’re first learning what to expect.
Several vital steps can help kids cope with hurricanes and other extreme weather events, as well as less extreme but still loud and scary weather, such as thunderstorms. Talking to kids about the plan, preparing together, and providing comfort items and cuddles are all great.
Sometimes, though, getting the message through their favorite media makes a strong connection, and these great episodes of shows directed at kids can help.
Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood: A Storm In The Neighborhood
Daniel Tiger and his family are always fantastic at carrying on the legacy of Fred Rogers, communicating big feelings to small children in powerful and heartfelt ways, and this episode is no exception.
It’s a two-parter, with the first episode titled A Storm In The Neighborhood, and the second titled After The Neighborhood Storm. The entire episode is available on Amazon Prime under the category of Daniel Tiger and More Incredible Stories, rather than the main Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood series page. Some helpful clips are also available for free on the PBS Kids site.
In this episode, Daniel Tiger and his dad are helping their friends, the Owl family and the Kittycat family, pack up to weather the storm at the Tiger home, since a treehouse isn’t the safest place for a storm. The kids are having fun until they get scared by the storm, but the grown-ups step in to assure them:
“Take a grownup’s hand, follow the plan, and you’ll be safe!”
Later, when the lights go out, the grown-ups assure the kids that there’s a plan for this too: an emergency kit with a flashlight, plus an indoor picnic.
Why It’s Great:
One of the lovely things this show does is take an important and reassuring message and turn it into a memorable short phrase or song, usually just 2-4 lines. In this case, every time the kids get worried, their adults remind them:
“Take a grownup’s hand, follow the plan, and you’ll be safe!”
Repeating this simple, short song throughout, the adults reassure the kids that their job is simple. All the kids have to do is trust their parents. The adults have a plan in place for keeping everyone safe, and they share it with the kids. Scary things do happen, but the grown-ups are ready, and it will all be okay.
Also, be sure to check out our article about Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood episodes that teach empathy and kindness.
Sesame Street Gets Through A Storm
Sometimes hurricanes aren’t just scary, but downright devastating, and in Sesame Street Gets Through A Storm, Big Bird learns just how destructive it can be.
In this special episode of Sesame Street, Gordon, Maria, Luis, Gabi, and others all support Big Bird as he learns that a hurricane has destroyed his home. Then, the rebuilding begins.
Even as he rebuilds, Big Bird continues to experience the repeated cycle of emotions that come with the massive loss of home and personal belongings. It’s not just about his broken doorframes and destroyed belongings, but about how a child’s belongings become associated with their own space in the world.
The Sesame Workshop has made this special extremely accessible, offering the full episode on its YouTube channel. It’s also available on the Sesame Workshop website, accompanied by questions that parents can use to get the conversation flowing with their children, inviting them to examine Big Bird’s feelings and their own.
Why It’s Excellent
This episode addresses the period following a natural disaster on both practical and emotional levels.
Children viewing receive validation for their emotions, as Big Bird experiences sadness at his loss, and anger at the hurricane. There’s also a moment when he speaks about not knowing exactly what emotions he’s feeling, and it’s clear that Big Bird is overwhelmed.
Meanwhile, Snuffleupagus is also sad, even though his own home hasn’t been lost, displaying empathy for his best friend’s pain.
Big Bird and his friends talk about ways to feel better, like drawing a picture, while the whole crew also jumps in to help with practical matters, like rebuilding the nest, and welcoming the giant muppet into their homes in the meantime.
Sesame Street has always done a fantastic job of helping kids handle big feelings and big changes, even addressing topics like divorce and the incarceration of a parent, so it’s no surprise that they tackled loss with such empathy and love.
Curious George: It Was A Dark & Stormy Night
This episode of Curious George is a little different from the other shows on this list, because its main character is not the one afraid of the storm. It’s also not a hurricane episode, but is a valuable teaching tool for understanding storm fears and how to calm them.
When George realizes that Charkie the dog is afraid of a thunderstorm, he sets out to understand why. He experiments with various elements of the storm, like the bright flash of lightning and the loud bang of thunder, as he tries to get to the root of his friend’s fear.
Then comes the logical next step: understanding the tools to help comfort a pup afraid of the storm.
The full episode is available on Peacock, and a clip is also available on YouTube.
Why It’s Wonderful
There’s a lot of empathy in this episode (as usual when we watch George express his curiosity about how others move through life).
George remains focused on two goals: understanding someone else’s fear and offering comfort, even though he doesn’t share that fear himself.
By the end, a viewer has been given validation, assured that it’s okay to feel fears even if others think they’re irrational, and also been provided with a few practical tricks for dealing with fear of storms, like using headphones to block out the big, frightening sounds, and tucking away in a safe, sheltered place.
Most importantly, it relies on the support of loved ones and caregivers to get through challenging events.
Dinosaur Train: Hurricane Story
The family from Dinosaur Train, like most of our PBS families, is emblematic of raising kids with empathy and support.
When a hurricane hits, the family finds that their normal day-to-day activities are disrupted, beginning when Mr. Pteranodon returns home and explains that he was unable to find any fish for lunch.
Then, Don, who has been warned about digging holes near the nest (but continues to do so anyway) discovers a hidden cave, which shelters the family while the storm rages.
The kids are each allowed to bring one toy from home to entertain them during the storm, and their parents join them in games and storytelling to pass the time.
The episode, plus printables, is available on the PBS website.
What You’ll Love About It
This episode is full of mini-lessons, including a clip of paleontologist Dr. Scott Sampson explaining what paleontologists believe happened when a hurricane or other large storm hit while dinosaurs were alive, based on fossil evidence that suggests dinosaurs moved away from the coast to be safe during storms.
However, it’s mostly about sticking together and relying on each other during a storm. The Pteranodon family and their neighbors, the Lambeosaurus family, stick together in a cave during the storm, and other friends join them too.
During the storm, Mr. Pteranodon recounts the hurricane that hit while he was a kid and prepares his kids for the possibility that the storm may damage their nest. He also reassures them that when this happened before, he had fun helping rebuild. Sure enough, when the family discovers that their nest is gone, the kids, having been forewarned, are ready to get to work.
In short, the episode serves as a reassurance to viewers that when storms hit, children should listen to their adults, follow safety warnings, and be prepared to rebuild when it’s all over.
Arthur: Shelter From The Storm
When the PBS show “Arthur” tackles a topic, you can guarantee that it will not only be empathetic and caring but also intelligent.
The two-part episode, titled “Shelter From The Storm,” opens with the kids discussing the coming storm, including naming conventions and wind speeds. They proceed through emergency preparation plans, including generators, stocking up on nonperishable foods, and boarding up windows.
Then, things get serious despite the preparations. Some of the kids, including Muffy, end up in a temporary shelter thanks to flooding. LaDonna’s family is separated as her dad leaves to help the Army Corps of Engineers handle the disaster. Brain, who has excitedly created a storm globe and bought an anemometer (a device to measure wind speeds), is traumatized when his family’s store is damaged. And everywhere, family pets have been left behind.
The episode is available on the PBS website.
Why It’s An Amazing Resource
The Arthur characters are experiencing a wide range of emotions, from excited curiosity to fear and sadness, and they all find ways to work through their pain.
Brain is taken to a therapist, where he learns how to use breathing techniques to handle his trauma. Arthur, horrified by the experiences of many pet owners seeking their lost furry friends, sets up a website to help reunite pets with their owners and to fund the animal shelter caring for many displaced critters. Muffy, learning that a new friend’s home has been destroyed, invites her family to share their house until repairs can be made.
The big lesson is about community, friendship, and family — and that together, we can get through anything.
Weird But True: Storm Chasers
For your bigger kids, hurricanes are a good time to squeeze in some education. Knowing more about how a thing works doesn’t always make it less scary, but when it comes to storms, understanding that it’s just weather can often help alleviate the fear.
The hosts of Weird But True take your kids on a ride-along with the Storm Chasers, showcasing equipment used to identify and track hurricanes, and the tornadoes that can arise during them. Along the way, they’ll learn new vocabulary terms, like supercell hurricane, and get a peek at how hot and cold air patterns come together to create a wind that moves in a spiral.
They’ll learn the difference between a watch and a warning, as well as about waterspouts, multiple-vortex tornadoes, and, perhaps most importantly, how to stay safe during dangerous weather.
The full episode is available on the NatGeo Kids YouTube channel.
Why It’s A Great Episode
Understanding why storms occur can help alleviate fear, which is beneficial.
However, another crucial aspect of this episode is that the hosts consistently emphasize the importance of safety and the devastating impact that tornadoes and hurricanes can cause.
By the time your kids are tweens, they may start being a bit bored with riding out a hurricane in a pillow fort with a good book. At this age, kids are often curious to step outside and see exactly what’s going on, especially since many adults are doing the same thing.
This episode takes kids into the heart of the storm (without putting them in danger) and gives them a sneak peek at exactly what’s happening, while still reinforcing that there are genuine dangers and that it’s unwise to take unnecessary risks.