NJ Parents
Ten
General Tips
For
Communicating with Your Children about Disasters
1. Reassurance, Reassurance, Reassurance
It's important to continuously reassure and communicate to your children
that they're safe. Try to assure children that they've done everything
they can to keep their children safe. You'll do everything you can to
keep them and the rest of your family (including yourself) safe.
2. Turn off the TV
Overexposure to the media and watching news footage over and over
can be traumatizing. If your child(ren) or adolescent(s) are watching
the news, be sure to watch with them.
3. Response Differs According
to the Age of Your Child
Be aware that your child's age will affect his or her response, observe
their behavior and be attuned for changes. Adolescents in particular may
be hard hit by these kinds of events and you may want to watch for signs
such as: sleep disturbances, fatigue, lack of pleasure in activities enjoyed
previously, and initiation of illicit substance abuse. Obtaining counseling
for a child or adolescent soon after a disaster may reduce long-term effects.
4. Remain Composed
Calmly express your emotions, but remember that a composed demeanor
will provide a greater sense of security for your child.
5. Extra Time and Attention
Give your children extra time and attention and plan to spend more
time with your children in the following months. Also, play with children
who can't talk yet to help them work out their fears and respond to the
atmosphere around them.
6. Listen, Address Questions,
Talk and Discuss
Let your children ask questions,
talk about what happened, and let them express their feelings. If the
family has strong faith, talk about faith and help them relate what has
happened to those lessons and beliefs. Also help your children to understand
the significance of these events. Discussion is critical. Stress that
the terrorist acts are ones of desperation and horror -- that there are
"bad" people out there, and bad people do bad things. But not
all people in a particular group are bad. Children should know that lashing
out at members of a particular religious or ethnic group will only cause
more harm.
7. Emergency Plan
Use this as an opportunity to establish a family emergency plan. Ensure
they know or have access to emergency telephone numbers, or a meeting
location, etc. Feeling that there is something you can do can be very
comforting to both children and adults.
8. Return to a
Routine
Keep regular schedules for activities such as eating, playing and
going to bed to help restore a sense of security and normalcy.
9. Volunteer or Donate
Consider how you and your child can help. Children are better able
to regain their sense of power and security if they feel they can help
in some way. Encourage them to collect items to donate, send drawings
or cards, participate in organized community responses (e.g., food distribution
sites, ceremonies). Remember the rescue efforts may go on for some time
and assistance (i.e. supplies, materials, funds, etc) will be needed throughout
this period.
10. Reach Out for Additional Information
and Other Resources
This national tragedy will affect each of us in a different manner,
but no one has to go through this alone. As is true in so many aspects
of our lives, our strength lies in our connections to church, family,
friends, neighbors, co-workers and other professionals. Together we will
work through this disaster and emerge as a stronger society. Following
are other resources and telephone numbers to get help or information:
For more information on providing help to the rescue efforts, helping victims of the U.S. attacks visit:
For more useful information:
The Parent Center:
www.parentcenter.com/general/34754.html
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
: 202-347-8600
http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/disastercomm.htm
American Psychological Association:
202-336-5500
http://helping.apa.org/therapy/traumaticstress.html#children
American Academy of Child and Adolescent
Psychiatry: 202-966-7300
http://www.aacap.org/
Child Welfare League: (202) 638-2952
http://www.cwla.org
National Mental Health Association:
301-443-4513
http://www.nmha.org/reassurance/children.cfm
U.S. Department of Education: 800-USA-LEARN
http://www.ed.gov/
U.S. Justice Department Family Assistance
Center's Victim Hotline
800-331-0075
Center for Mental Health Services
Emergency Services and Disaster Relief Branch : 301-443-4735
http://www.mentalhealth.org/
| Source: | National Mental Health Association, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, American Academy of Pediatrics, The Parent Center, Child Welfare League |
| Complied by: | New Jersey Department
of Education Division of Student Services Vito A Gagliardi, Sr., Commissioner Gloria Hancock, Acting Assistant Commissioner> |
