Kids Express Feelings On Floods In Art

Drawings can say a lot about the feelings of eastern Idaho children whose lives were interrupted by last month’s Snake River flooding.

Some draw pictures of children fishing from boats in floodwaters lapping the sides of their homes. Others draw terse, unsmiling stick figures. But some have happy faces, hamburgers, pizza, candy.

School counselor Ruby Walker talked to children of flood victims in the Thomas area, and got them to express their feelings through drawings. She says the drawings reveal a lot.

A day of games, bowling and lunch were organized by the Snake River High School Student Council. Children between 5 and 13 were invited.

“It was a good way for everyone to get together and take a breath,” Walker said. “Children are no different than adults in that they need to talk about what’s bothering them.”

Walker found from the drawings that most of the children coped well. Crumpled drawing paper and stern-looking stick figures both indicate anger, frustration and sadness; there were few of those.

“Ninety-nine percent of the children drew themselves with happy faces,” she said.

During a crisis, children need to know from adults during an emergency that the tragedy is not their fault and that they’re safe.

Putting their feelings down on paper helps them take a huge, scary incident and put it into a smaller, manageable place on paper.

“They have it all right here, and they can control it because now it’s on paper,” she said.

The day’s activities also taught the children that they aren’t alone and that others also were frightened and worried. It introduced them to new friends.

“Overall, kids are resilient. They are going to make it,” Walker said. “This is a strong community with good kids who can pick up the pieces and go on.”