•
The Parent Center:
http://www.parentcenter.com/general/34754.html
•
American Academy of Pediatrics:
www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/disastercomm.htm
•
American Psychological Association:
http://helping.apa.org/therapy/traumaticstress.html#children
•
American
Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry:
http://www.aacap.org/
Some
general advice from the experts includes:
1.
Continuously reassure your
children that you will help to keep
them safe.
2.
Turn off the TV.
Overexposure to the media can be
traumatizing. If your older children are watching the news,
be
sure to watch with them.
3.
Be aware that your child's
age will affect his or her
response. Adolescents in particular may be hard hit by these
kinds of events. Obtaining counseling for a child or adolescent
soon after a disaster may reduce long-term effects.
4.
Calmly express your emotions,
but remember that a composed
demeanor will provide a greater sense of security for your child.
5.
Give your children extra
time and attention and plan to spend
more time with your children in the following months.
6.
Let your children ask questions, talk about what happened, and express
their feelings.
7.
Play with children who
can't talk yet to help them work out
their fears and respond to the atmosphere around them.
8.
Keep regular schedules
for activities such as eating, playing
and going to bed to help restore a sense of security and
normalcy.
9.
Consider how you and your
child can help. Children are better
able to regain their sense of power and security if they feel
they can help in some way.
For
more information on helping victims of the U.S. attacks,
visit: http://helping.org/promos/cs_wtc.adp
