The L.A. fires are taking a traumatic toll on kids

March 6, 2025 3 AM PT

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Experts say a long road to healing could lie ahead for children dealing with the trauma of the L.A. fires. They may be regressing to earlier stages of development or acting extra clingy and irritable as they navigate their emotional distress. Here’s what experts say parents can do to help them cope.

Jenny Gold

Jenny Gold covers early childhood development and education for the Los Angeles Times. Before joining The Times in 2023, she spent nearly 14 years covering healthcare for radio and print as a senior correspondent at Kaiser Health News. Her stories have appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Atlantic, NPR, Reveal and Marketplace, among others. A Berkeley native, she is a graduate of Brown University and was previously a Kroc fellow at NPR.

Kate Sequeira

Kate Sequeira is the audience editor for the Los Angeles Times early childhood education initiative. She worked previously as a production specialist for The Times’ Reading by 9 literacy program.