Helping Kids Deal with Trauma

Helping your kids cope with trauma

• Be honest about your emotions, but be strong
• Children will learn to cope and manage stress from seeing you cope
• Limit your child’s media exposure
• If you choose to let your child watch TV, as much as possible watch TV with your child so that you can have conversations about the tragedy
• Listen to your children express their feelings
• Be affectionate with your child
• Calmly give factual info, or your child may speculate to fill in the gaps. Be age-appropriate with your explanations: give simple, brief explanations to young children, and more details to older children.
• Be consistent -- stick to your normal routines as much as possible
• Find a way for your family or classroom to put your fears into action: write a letter or send a creative care package to the students and families of the school

Helping allay your child’s fears

• Be calm
• Listen to your child’s concerns
• Explain how schools and authorities have plans to keep them safe
• Advise your child that we can’t let events keep us from living our lives, or defeating us
• Tell your child that school is important
• Don't expect these symptoms in most kids, but if they do occur, it may mean a need for special attention for the child:
• Irritability and loss of concentration
• Uncharacteristic behavior problems
• Stomachaches, headaches, dizziness with no apparent cause
• Withdrawal from friends and family; sadness, lethargy
• Difficulty sleeping, loss of appetite or compulsive eating

SOURCE: The Family Conservancy