Parents should recognize that there are fears that come from within the child, his imagination or his fantasies. These are in addition to fears that are stimulated by a real event. Even after the event has passed, his anxiety will sometimes remain. The child may not be able to describe his anxious feelings. Even though intensely afraid, the child may be genuinely unable to give an explanation that makes rational sense to the adult.
Children are dependent on adults for love, care, security and food.
They fear most the loss of their parents and being left alone. In a disaster, even the child who is usually competent and unafraid may react with fear and considerable anxiety to an event that threatens the family. A child having less experience in distinguishing a real threat from an imaginary one is likely to be plagued by fears with no basis in reality. A child experiences similar fear in other situations, including parental separation, divorce, hospitalization or the death of a loved one. Parents recognize these more familiar fears and make attempts to deal with them.