Managing Traumatic Stress for Children
An APA article gives these great tips on helping children manage traumatic stress:
- Spend more time with children and let them be more dependent on you during the months following the trauma.
- Provide play experiences to help relieve tension.
- Be available and encourage older children to ask questions they may have, as well as sharing their thoughts and feelings with you and with one another.
- Keep regular schedules for activities such as eating, playing and going to bed to help restore a sense of security and normalcy, even if your family has been relocated to a shelter or other temporary housing.
- Reduce the number of times children see the trauma on the news. Repeatedly watching broadcasts of the disaster can re-traumatize children.
Read More about Managing Traumatic Stress…
I definitely encourage such measures in helping kids cope with trauma/tragedy. Giving them extra hugs and kisses should help too!
What about you? What other tips can you share regarding stress alleviation for kids?
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POSTED IN: News and Links about Children's Things
4 opinions for Managing Traumatic Stress for Children
Qadira
Sep 3, 2005 at 3:31 pm
One thing is to let them know it is ok to have fun and be happy and to enjoy their favorite things, in spite of the stressful situations going on around them. That’s good advice for adults too.
cube
Sep 8, 2005 at 9:13 am
Yes, don’t let them see your anxiety. If parents overreact, so will the children. I know it isn’t easy, but it will be better in the long run.
Shai
Sep 12, 2005 at 7:16 am
Qadira and Cube: Good additional tips! Thanks for sharing them.
Mishal
Nov 4, 2005 at 11:19 pm
It should be noted very strictly that children below 10 catch traumatic diseases very frequently as compared to children above 10.
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