CHILDREN'S
REACTIONS TO DISASTER
A disaster, whe=
ther
community wide or involving only a single family, may leave children especi=
ally
frightened, insecure, or upset about what happened. They may display a vari=
ety
of emotional responses after a disaster, and it is important to recognize t=
hat
these responses are normal How a parent reacts will make a great difference=
in
the child's understanding and recovery after the disaster. Parents should m=
ake
every effort to keep the children informed about what is happening and to
explain it in terms they can understand.
The following l=
ist
includes some of the reactions parents may see in their children:
|
Crying/Depression=
Bedwetting
Thumb sucking
Nightmares
Clinging/fear of being left alone =
Regression to previous behaviors
Fighting
|
Inability to concentrate
Withdrawal and isolation
Not wanting to attend school =
Headaches
Changes in eating and sleeping habits
Excessive fear of darkness
Increase in physical complaints
|
Some things that will help your child rec=
over
are to:
- Hug and to=
uch
your child often.
<=
o:p>
- Reassure t=
he
child frequently that you are safe and together.=
<=
o:p>
- Talk with =
your
child about his/her feelings about the disaster. Share your feelings t=
oo.
Provide information the child can understand.
<=
o:p>
- Talk about=
what
happened.
<=
o:p>
- Spend extr=
a time
with your child at bedtime.
<=
o:p>
- Allow chil=
dren
to grieve about their lost treasures: a toy, a blanket, and a lost hom=
e.
<=
o:p>
- Talk with =
your
child about what you will do if another disaster strikes. Let your chi=
ld
help in preparing and planning for future disasters. <=
/span>
<=
o:p>
- Try to spe=
nd
extra time together in family activities to begin replacing fears with
pleasant memories.
<=
o:p>
- If your ch=
ild is
having problems at school, talk to the teacher so that you can work
together to help your child.
Usu=
ally a
child's emotional response to a disaster does not last long. Be aware that =
some
problems may not appear immediately or may recur months after the disaster.=
Talking openly =
with
your children help them to recover more quickly from the loss. If you feel =
your
child may need additional help to recover from the disaster, contact your
Community Mental Health Agency.
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