While the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) expects a "near normal Atlantic hurricane season" this year, we can still expect seven to 11 tropical storms and three to six hurricanes -- one or two categorized as “major.”

That’s a lot to weather in the next couple of months, especially for young children. So while you trim trees, stock up on batteries and water, and plan evacuation routes, you should also prepare your child for a possible hurricane.

Have a plan in place

Michael Assel, Ph.D., associate professor of pediatrics at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, has advice for parents on how to talk with their children about an approaching storm. Assel is a child psychologist at the Children's Learning Institute.

1. Use common sense and put things in perspective. Remember that severe hurricanes are not common along the Houston/Galveston coastline, and the science of hurricane prediction and tracking is advanced. While Rita and Ike were powerful storms, there was relatively little loss of life.
2. Provide developmentally appropriate and accurate information. Don’t let your child sit glued to a television watching storm damage that might have occurred in the past, but if a hurricane is approaching let her see you prepare.
3. Kids should play age-appropriate roles in storm preparations. For example, they can pick up toys in the back yard and pack travel bags. Older children and teens can be more active in preparations, maybe helping pack the car and moving items to higher ground.
4. If kids have been through past storm trauma, be more conservative or safety conscious when evacuations begin. Recognize the individual needs of a child and respond appropriately. If you didn’t evacuate during a past storm and should have, evacuate sooner when a hurricane approaches. If a tree crashed through the roof before, clear out trees close to the house. Show kids you can learn from past experiences and make adjustments for the future.
5. Most importantly, let children know they are safe. No matter what happens, you can and will deal with it as a family.

By Jennifer Patrick, guest contributor

Tell us: Do your kids freak out when they see a storm in the Gulf? How do you handle it?