Communicating
With Children About Disasters
The American Academy
of Pediatrics (AAP) would like to offer some advice on how to communicate
with children and adolescents during times of crisis.
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It's important
to communicate to children that they're safe. Given what they may
have seen on television, they need to know that the violence is
isolated to certain areas and they will not be harmed. Parents should
try to assure children that they've done everything they can to
keep their children safe.
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Adolescents
in particular can be hard hit by these kinds of events and parents
might want to watch for signs such as: sleep disturbances, fatigue,
lack of pleasure in activities enjoyed previously, and initiation
of illicit substance abuse.
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Overexposure
to the media can be traumatizing. It's unwise to let children or
adolescents view footage of traumatic events over and over. Children
and adolescents should not watch these events alone.
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Adults need
to help children understand the significance of these events. Discussion
is critical. It should be stressed that the terrorist acts are ones
of desperation and horror - and that they're not about politics
or religion. Children should know that lashing out at members of
a particular religious or ethnic group will only cause more harm.
Related documents can be found at:
How Pediatricians Can Respond to the Psychosocial Implications of Disasters (AAP Clinical Report)
The Pediatrician and Disaster Preparedness (AAP policy statement)
Child Deaths Hit Communities Hard: Disasters Demand Psychological Triage (AAP News article)
Family Readiness Kit - Preparing to Handle Disasters
The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry has suggestions for "Helping Children After a Disaster." They can be found at: http://www.aacap.org/publications/factsfam/disaster.htm
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