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SUPPORT EMOTIONAL RECOVERY IN CHILDREN:
• Talk with children about what they think happened. Give simple, accurate, and age-appropriate answers to questions. If a child knows upsetting details that are true, don’t deny them. Instead, listen closely and communicate with them about their fears.
• Let children talk about the trauma and know that it is normal to feel worried or upset. Help younger children use words like “angry” and “sad” to express their feelings.
• Display patience when children ask the same question many times. Children often use repetition of information as a source of comfort. Be consistent with answers and information.
• If a child seems reluctant to talk, offer for them to draw pictures, which may encourage discussion. Don’t pressure children to talk if they are not ready.
• Encourage children to act out their feelings with toys or puppets. Don’t be alarmed at angry or violent emotions. Use the play-acting to begin a conversation about worries and fears.
• Never promise a child that everything will be okay.
• Limit or eliminate all exposure to media. This will only cause more anxiety.
• Maintain a familiar routine as much as possible. Children respond well to structure which allows them to feel comforted and safe.
SUPPORT EMOTIONAL RECOVERY IN ADULTS:
• Understand everyone reacts differently to disasters and traumatic events. There is no “right” or “wrong” way to think, feel or respond. Be tolerant of your own reactions and feelings, as well as the reactions and feelings of others.
• Repetitious thinking about fearful or painful experiences can overwhelm your nervous system and make it harder to think clearly and act appropriately. Try to avoid obsessively thinking about the traumatic event.
• Avoid denying emotions. Even intense feelings will pass if you simply allow yourself to feel what you feel. Talking, journaling and art may help the healing process.
• Make stress reduction a priority. Trauma takes a heavy toll on your mental and physical health. Do activities that are relaxing and bring you joy. Get adequate rest and maintain a nutritious diet.
• Help link parents and your staff to available help and resources. Assist them in contacting friends and relatives that can be a support
• Encourage your staff to take time to eat, rest and relax, even for short periods of time.
It is important to remember there are no “normal” reactions to abnormal, disruptive events. Each child,
as well as each adult, will have a unique response to a traumatic event. As an adult caregiver, the greatest responsibility is to help support the child by identifying signs of trauma and connecting that child to additional resources as needed. Please see the Resource section of this toolkit for additional ways to support children’s emotional recovery.
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