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 the 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, age three to five, may not talk about their feelings openly. Talking
while playing games or drawing pictures 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 a catastrophe. We can only control how we react to
them, especially with our children.
