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Children
and Crisis Events
During
and After a Crisis | Invite
Children to Participate in Planning | Printable
Article (PDF)
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Over the past two years, it seems as though
there have been more and more natural disasters
occurring all around us throughout the
world. When we get home from a long, hard-day’s
work and begin our evening rituals, we
turn on the television to catch up on all
the news-worthy events of the day. Earthquakes,
landslides, fires, floods, war, not to
mention our local news which includes shootings,
robberies, and lost children! The older
we get, the more we tend to ignore the
severity of it all. We’ve become
hardened by such frequent events. Have
you thought about the children in the room?
When children see emergencies and disasters
on television, it can sometimes bother
them and create worry or stress in their
lives. Children can be afraid of things
they don’t understand, so if you
take time to discuss emergencies and being
prepared with them, it will help not only
calm their fears, but make them a more
confident and prepared person.
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The
better prepared you are, the more
reassuring you are.
Invite Children to Participate!
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When
parents and caregivers or other family
members deal with crisis situations calmly
and confidently, children feel more confident
and secure. a child's reactions are influenced
by the behavior they see. The better
prepared you are, the more reassuring
you may be during an emergency. This
can help children cope.
Normally, as adults,
we tend to take care of the above on
our own without inviting
children to participate, which I think,
is ignoring the most opportune time to
make children feel not only at ease but
part of the planning process. Not only
will they feel like an important part
of the family, they will also remember
how the plan and supplies come into play
if they are a part of it from its inception.
Include children in the planning
process. This will reinforce the reason behind
it all.
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During
and After a Crisis Event
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Show
understanding. After a crisis,
children are most afraid that the event
will happen again, someone close to them
will be killed or hurt or that they will
be left alone or separated from their family.
You can help them by:
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- Sharing
facts with them about the
event and plans to keep them
safe.
- Encouraging
them to talk or express what
they are feeling.
- Listening
to their concerns.
- Giving
them specific tasks to do.
This lets them know they
can help and can restore
a sense of control.
- Spending
extra time with them.
- Re-establishing
daily routines.
- Understanding
that children have different
reactions to crisis events
based on their maturity,
age and experience.
- Knowing
when and how to get help
for a child who continues
to suffer.
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Monitor
and limit your family's exposure to
the media.
The news can bring out fear and confusion among children and adults.
Watching images over and over can cause younger children to believe
the event is happening again and again. Parents and caregivers
might want to talk about what is being shown on TV with them.
Use support networks.
Parents and caregivers are almost
always the best source of support
for their children in difficult
times. It is important for adults
to understand their own feelings
to manage their reactions better.
Adults in control of their feelings
are better able to support their
children.
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- Get
informed.
Know what hazards are in your area. Know evacuation routes
and disaster plans where you and your family spend time.
- Develop
a family disaster plan.
Being prepared can help the whole family cope better and have
a greater sense of control.
- Assemble
a disaster supply kit.
This kit can help your family stay safe and be more comfortable
during and after a crisis event..
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