This is a common fear, and the best way to help your child cope is to talk about it — ideally before the next electrical storm so you can prepare him and help him find ways to cope when it does happen. If your child is over 5 or so, sometimes learning more about what thunder and lightening are and why they happen (as well as how rare it is to get struck) can make your child feel more in control and less afraid. Many experts suggest buying an age-appropriate book for your child and reading it together (so you’ll be there to answer her questions), such as Nature’s Fireworks: A Book About Lightning by Josepha Sherman.

When you broach the subject of your child’s fear, start by validating her feelings. Say something like “I know the sound of thunder and lightening is very scary for you; loud noises often are.” Never dismiss or minimize your child’s fear; instead, explain that even though lightning can be dangerous, you and your child are safe because you are all indoors or in your car, and away from potential danger zones, like open bodies of water and trees. For toddlers, you can show them that the sounds of thunder and lightning aren’t so scary by recreating the noises together with pots and pans. Once they realize they can make that same cracking noise themselves, it won’t be such a frightening unknown.

Then during a storm, remind your child why she’s safe and put her in control. Ask “what would you like to do to feel better?” Sometimes that means going into another room or building a fort of pillows and crawling into it.

Give them a cuddle during a thunderstorm to reassure them all will be okay.

Fortunately my daughter handles thunder well, unlike me.

We put on a calming video and sit on the couch for a cuddle.

Yeah dog is, just give them pats

My kids loved a good thunder storm, they sit outside and enjoy it. No fears here

My kids love thunder storms, they would get outside and run around in it. My dogs don’t like it, they tend to hide under the beds

Yes – I tell the kids it’s just like loud music and make it fun. The dog just wants to hide in a corner and cant be reasoned with

A dog can hear thunder long before it reaches your area. Their hearing is 7 times as sensitive as ours. If you have a electricity meter with special safety switches, use surge resistant plugs or a power board that has one in it.

Make a game of it and try not to be overly upset about them being scared. If you’re not scared you can teach them to not be scared too. You could also count between thunder claps to show them that the thunder is moving away.

have you seen TED? lol they sing a great song for thunder! they hate it lol.

i haven’t had this issue as my kids love it but you could turn the tv up with their fav movie and watch it with them to distract and comfort them, get a blanket and tell them it is alright. Cheer happily at the really loud ones and make them guess if it will be the loudest or if there will be a louder one! If they see you “enjoying” the sound, they might think that it is fun too

We went to see the “The Sound of Music ” musical last year and you just reminded me of the thunderstorm bed scene . The hard part is you cant have electricity items on as it is not safe during the storm, maybe distract them with reading , drawing etc.. activities .

Maybe I need to make up a story about why the thunder is angry to the lightning lol

My kids loved a good thunder and lightening storm! My dogs hide under the bed. Nothing too dramatic here. I can understand why they would be scared, I hate the thunder!

my daughter is absolutely terrified of storms – I usually put on one of her favourite movies, give her a blanket and teddy to cuddle and sit with her til it passes – if it lasts during sleep time she will usually sleep in my bed

My daughter was never really afraid of thunders, but my dog is. Distractions help in his case too.

Totally! We try to make it into a story and keep the general atmosphere at home light hearted. Distractions are also good, whether they be food (try to make a mandarin last by eating one segment per thunder clap etc), or something else. We also count between thunder claps to know as soon as the storm starts to pass. Cuddles and blankets are also good.