3/29/2024 0 Comments Signs of trauma in a childWithin the first month after a disaster it is common for kids to seem mostly okay. You may also need to tailor information to your child’s strength for instance, a child with language disability may better understand information through the use of visual materials or other means of communication you are used to. You might need to simplify the language you use, and repeat things very often. These children may require more time, support and guidance than other children. Give special help to kids with special needs.Instead, for the near future you should lower expectations for household duties and school demands, although it is good to have them do at least some chores. It is very important not to overburden kids with tasks, or give them adult ones, as this can be too stressful for them. Do not give children too much responsibility.When families can talk and feel sad together, it’s more likely that kids will share their feelings. Encourage family discussions about the death of a loved one.Children need to digest information on their own timetable and questions might come out of nowhere. Let them know you are ready to talk at any time. Because the aftermath of a disaster may include constantly changing situations, children may have questions on more than on occasion. Don’t worry about knowing exactly the right thing to say - after all, there is no answer that will make everything okay. Know that it’s okay to answer, “I don’t know.” What children need most is someone whom they trust to listen to their questions, accept their feelings, and be there for them.Simply confirm what you are hearing: “Yes, I can see that you are worried.” If a child admits to a concern, do not respond, “Oh, don’t be worried,” because they may feel embarrassed or criticized. Acknowledge what your child is feeling.Or you can say, “Let’s breathe in slowly while I count to three, then breathe out while I count to three.” Place a stuffed animal or pillow on your child’s belly as they lie down and ask them to breathe in and out slowly and watch the stuffed animal or pillow rise and fall. You can hold a feather or a wad of cotton in front of your child’s mouth and ask them to blow at it, exhaling slowly. Breathing becomes shallow when anxiety sets in deep belly breaths can help children calm down. Help children relax with breathing exercises.Let kids know it is OK to tell you how they are feeling at any time. It is important to understand how your child views the situation, and what is confusing or troubling to them. Let your child know it is normal to experience anger, guilt and sadness, and to express things in different ways-for example, a person may feel sad but not cry. Some might want to spend extra time with friends and relatives some might want to spend more time alone.
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