Preschool

☹ Reactions ☺ How to Help

Fear of being alone Patience and tolerance
Speech difficulties Provide reassurance
Change in appetite Avoid media exposure
Constipation Plan calming
School-age (Agees 6-12)
☹ Reactions ☺ How to Help
Irritability Regular exercise and strerching
Clinging Engage in educational activities
Sleep\appetite disturbance Set gentle but firm limits
Forgetfulness Maintain family routines
Adolescent (13-18)
☹ Reactions ☺ How to Help
Sleep\appetite disturbance Encourage continuation of routines
Isolating from peers and loved ones Stay in touch with friends
Avoiding\cutting school Limit media exposure
Children with special needs
☹ Reactions ☺ How to Help
Reactions will likely be based on the Provide increased access to comforting
child’s developmental level and may measures and sensory needs
include a combination of the symptoms
above depending on your child’s
developmental age
 11 tips for helping children who have experienced a disaster
(Here are some ideas to use at home\school)
★ Provide loving, nurturing comfort and care.
★ Answer children’s questions directly, honestly, and age appropriately.
★ Review with children their daily schedule—wake up, go to school, play and
learn at school, pickup, dinner, and bedtime.
★ Remind children that their parents will be there at the end of the day.
★ Encourage children to express their emotions—even anger.
★ Come up with projects where children help others affected by a traumatic
event, such as making get well cards for people in the hospital.
★ Reassure children that they’re safe, and point out all the ways that parents
and teachers make them safe.
★ Offer stress-reducing activities such as yoga, meditation, and mindfulness
exercises.
★ Create cozy spaces where children can be alone, be sad, be angry, or think
about things.
★ Read aloud books about disasters, such as Freddy the Frogcaster and the
Huge Hurricane, by Janice Dean, to encourage discussion.
★ Point out good things that have happened, such as people helping each
other and the community banding together.