Q: My kids, 4 and 3, are so scared of thunderstorms. They cry and hide in their room. I tell them it's OK and natural but they don't get it. What should I do?

Q: These fears are common in toddlers and preschoolers, but they typically resolve by the time the kids are in elementary school.Meanwhile, we recommend two strategies: information and distraction.

Information can help overcome fear. Talk with your kids about what a thunderstorm is, and where the sounds and light come from. Some books you might find helpful include "Franklin and the Thunderstorm" by Paulette Bourgeois, "Just a Thunderstorm" by Gina and Mercer Mayer, and "Rumble, Boom! A Book About Thunderstorms" by Rick Thomas. You might buy a CD with storm noises and talk about the sounds -- then, when a storm comes, you can talk about how its sounds compare with what you've heard on the CD.

		Parenting 4 Kids Nationally accredited, 4 Kids Early Learning Network serves children and families throughout the Mon Valley. Through this column, 4 Kids staff members answer reader questions about raising children in the critical early years. E-mail questions for consideration to: questions@4kidsearlyed.org, or mail to: 4 Kids Questions, 445 Fourth St., Braddock, PA 15104.

Of course you'll want to talk about ways to stay safe and comfortable in a thunderstorm -- for example, by going (or staying) indoors, not using the computer or phone during the storm, and knowing where flashlights and batteries are kept. Be honest but reassuring.

Distraction is useful as a storm is happening. You can teach the kids how to count the seconds between the lightning and the thunder to see how far away the storm is. (For every five seconds you count, the storm is one mile away.) On a sunny day, make a rain gauge -- any small container in your yard will do -- and, during a storm, guess how much rain is falling. Check the gauge after the storm. Plan ahead for activities you'll do when it storms; then the kids will have something fun to anticipate as clouds gather -- you can make a fort with the dining room chairs, or raid a stash of "during a storm" games or coloring books.

One more thing: Buy kid-friendly flashlights your children can take to bed when it storms at night -- kids are often comforted (and distracted) by the light.