CENTER GROVE COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
PARENT RESOURCES
HELPING YOUR CHILD COPE
Traumatic events affect individuals, families, and communities. Children of all ages react differently to the trauma of a disaster and the family and community stress that occurs in the aftermath. Some will seem to come through the traumatic events unaffected. Children who were not directly impacted by the event may experience some of the same reactions as those who were. There may be immediate reactions, delayed reactions, both or no reactions. Others will react strongly from the start even if they have suffered little loss or injury. Other events may result in new fears. Most children, like adults, have normal and typical reactions to abnormal circumstances that accompany a disaster like a death in their community. Children generally experience more anxiety than their parents do or teachers are aware of. They may become easily upset or hide their distress to protect other family members. Many reactions of children are not evident until months after the disaster. Below are appropriate ways to discuss these situations with your children from the Indiana Crisis Assistance Response Team (I-CART). Tips for Parents
- Provide repeated opportunities for children to talk. Children may need to repeat the stories of their experiences many times…they need to talk about what they saw, heard, felt and did during the days surrounding the event. They also need to talk about what their biggest fear or concern is now. Also, use it as an opportunity to talk about what they learned about their community and how people help each other. Make sure the child knows you are listening to him/her. Young children draw pictures or express their responses in play. Older children may want to journal.
- Control rumors and correct any myths that children may have regarding the event and reactions to it. People can respond just as strongly to a rumor or myth as an actual event.
- Reassure your child that many of their reactions are common reactions and that everyone reacts different.
- Return to your family’s daily routines as soon as possible (mealtimes, bedtimes, birthday celebrations, family outings, and favorite activities, etc.). Remind your child of what has not changed and most importantly that you have each other.
- Do not hesitate to reach out to your child’s school to share any concerns or to ask for assistance. Remember that some children do not exhibit significant concerns until months later. Be receptive to any concerns that the school may share with you.
- Share your grief or feelings about the event. This helps your child express his/her feelings also. Talk about the family plan for coping and recovery and how long it may take. Do not make promises that you might not be able to keep. Help the child accept some losses as permanent. Make explanations simple for younger children.
- Younger children often express fear and anger through play. Acknowledge their feelings as ok.
- Hold and comfort your child…adolescents also need this type of support.
- If your child lost a special possession, allow them time to grieve or cry. Allow the child the time they need to work through this. Remember, what is important to a child may not appear to be that significant to an adult.
- If your child wants to help others, locally or nationally or to respond in this way to future events, provide them the opportunity and support to do so.
Common Reactions
- A need to talk about the event and their experiences
- A need to ask the same question and/or to hear the same answer over and over again
- Increased physical complaints…headaches, stomachaches, etc.
- Behavioral changes: difficulty paying attention, focusing; and/or remembering things; irritability; vivid memories that intrude during the day; anger; tantrums, anxiety; withdrawal or isolation; sadness; children and adolescents often regress to behavior from an earlier time period (clinging to a parent, wanting to be or sleep in the same room as a parent, bedwetting, thumb sucking, crying easily, tantrums, etc.)
- Sadness and longing for the “way things used to be”
- Academic performance suffers (falling grades, disruptiveness in class, and rudeness toward adults, falling asleep in class, attendance problems)…this may occur even months after the traumatic event
- Dreams and nightmares are more common; especially about traumatic events…sleep difficulties.
- Children and adolescents may show insight and an increasing concern for others
- Adolescents may lose some of their sense of invulnerability. Especially for adolescents, watch for risk-taking behaviors, changes in peer groups, changes in appearance, loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities, substance abuse, hostility and increased irritability, or an increase in “challenging” adult authority
The intensity of a child’s reactions depends on a variety of factors: the amount of loss experienced, threat of life, the family reactions to the event and the aftermath of the event, financial changes and stress in the home, stress or a troubled home before the traumatic event, the support system that the child has available, previous losses and previous coping mechanisms. Any marked change in behavior, whether immediate or even months afterwards, often suggests a strong need for emotional support. Extreme behaviors also signal a need for intervention (destructive acts toward people, animals or property, frequent panic attacks, an inability or unwillingness to socialize that lasts for several weeks or longer and significantly impacts the child’s daily activities, etc). Remember that seeking assistance is a strength not a weakness and it can help prevent a concern from becoming even a larger concern.
Additional Resources
- Your child’s School Counselor or Social Worker is also available to help your child.
- The National Suicide Prevention Hotline is another resource that is available 24/7 for free, confidential support at 988 or via online chat.
- Many books on death and dying are available for children to help you discuss the situation with your child.
Links for More Information
I-CART
Phone: 317-596-2202