Rhythm, Routine, and Reassurance: Helping Children Heal After Hurricane Melissa

Children from Trench Town learn how to play the drum.

As families across Jamaica continue to recover from the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, a child development expert and medical epidemiologist is urging parents and carers to pay close attention to the emotional well-being of their children.

Dr Elizabeth Ward, Chair of the Violence Prevention Alliance, notes that while restoring homes and communities is critical, helping children regain a sense of normalcy and security is just as important.

According to Dr Ward, activities such as drumming and drum circles can play a valuable role in helping children cope with the emotional aftershocks of the hurricane. The rhythmic nature of drumming, she said, helps to foster calm, teamwork, and community connection.

“Drumming provides a safe outlet for children to release stress and express emotions they might not yet have words for,” said Dr Ward.

She noted that children often internalise the anxiety and uncertainty experienced by adults after disasters. “Simple activities that promote rhythm, creativity, and togetherness can help restore balance and emotional grounding,” she said.

Parents are also encouraged to maintain daily routines as much as possible, even amid disrupted living conditions. Regular schedules, such as fixed mealtimes, bedtime rituals, or shared family activities, help children feel secure and remind them that stability is returning.

Equally important, she recommends intentional family bonding through small, meaningful acts. Families are encouraged to sit and eat together, sing songs, share stories, or draw, even if it means sketching in the dust. These shared experiences, she says, help children process their feelings while strengthening family connections.

“As we rebuild physically, we must also rebuild emotionally,” Dr Ward emphasised. “Children thrive when they feel connected, heard, and loved. In times of crisis, that human connection becomes their anchor.”