After the Disaster: What Parents Can Do

Lennis G. Echterling, Ph.D.

James Madison University

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After the disaster, children may have some or many of the following symptoms. Help parents to recognize and remediate these problems by educating them on the following:

If your child has...

· vivid memories - or no memory at all - about the event…

Your child probably can remember detailed scenes of the incident. He or she may draw many pictures of this scene or even act it out in play. Or your child may be unable to remember anything at all about the incident. It's common for children to have amnesia about such a terrible experience.

· trouble sitting still…

Your child may now be more active, have problems paying attention, and be more inpatient.

· worries and fears…

Your child may be frightened that the disaster will occur again. Of course, it is important for children to be alert and concerned, but excessive worries may keep your child from functioning normally in his/her daily routines.

· upset feelings or no feelings at all…

Your child may become upset or angry easily. Or your child may seem not to care about anything.

· a need to talk about it…

Your boy or girl may want to tell what happened again and again. Even a generally quiet child may talk a lot about what he or she saw, felt and did.

· nightmares and trouble sleeping…

Your child may be afraid to go to sleep or wake up frightened from bad dreams.

· fears of being alone…

Some children are afraid of being left alone. Your child may cling to you and may be afraid of leaving home to go to school.

· physical problems… Your child may suffer from headaches, stomach aches, nausea, and fatigue.

You can help your child through this difficult time by...

· letting your child talk about the incident.

It may be painful, but the best thing you can do for your child is to listen to the stories and to let him or her draw pictures or act out the incident in their play. Talking, drawing and play-acting are healthy and natural ways for a child to work through reactions.

· comforting your child.

Feel free to hold and comfort your child more during this time. Your child is reaching out to you for security right now, and a little extra love and affection will not spoil him or her.

· not being over-protective.

This may be the most difficult for you to do, but you must fight the temptation to over-protect your child. It may be very hard even to let him or her out of your sight, but it's important that your child returns to a regular routine as soon as possible.

· being a good example.

Actions speak louder than words, and by your actions, you can set an example for your child of how to handle these reactions in a productive way.

· encouraging your child to help.

If your child is able, you may want to encourage him or her to offer support and understanding to someone who has been more seriously affected by the disaster.

· seeking help if your child is suffering severe problems.

Your child needs more help if he or she is having extreme reactions, such as repeated nightmares, "flashbacks" of the blast, crying spells, behavior problems, and panic reactions.

Information Publisher:
The Virginia Disaster Stress Intervention Site
Last update: May 28, 1997

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