Radio Commentary
Whether it's a
hurricane, tornado, or earthquake far away, or a fire or shooting closer to
home, parents and other caregivers must meet the challenge
of reassuring children during times of crisis.
The way caregivers respond has
a huge impact on how children will react.
To help, a booklet from the American
Academy of Pediatrics and Johnson & Johnson Pediatric Institute, called When Terrible Things Happen: A Parent’s
Guide to Talking with Their Children, offers some good advice.
For example, infants and toddlers, age
zero to three, can’t understand how a crisis or a loss has changed their
environment.
But they can recognize and respond
to changes in adult behavior.
The best way to help infants and toddlers
is to keep a routine and resume normal activities as soon as possible.
Pre-school children, ages three to
five, may not talk about their feelings openly. Talking while playing games can
help children of this age group express their thoughts more easily.
School-aged
children, age five to 12, have more understanding of how and why things happen
and will want to ask questions. Parents can help by talking, listening and
answering their questions directly and honestly.
We cannot control a crisis or
catastrophe. We can only control how we react to them, especially with our
children.
