would you know how to talk with kids? when tragedy strikes,
would they listen?
what would you say if they witnessed
this…
or this…
or if they heard about this…
or this…
could you comfort them?
could you ease their
fears?
could you help?
prepare yourself
prepare yourself
listen
prepare them
plan with them
know what
to say
when
ages & stages
preschoolers
Stick to regular family
routines
Avoid unnecessary separations
Provide extra comfort and reassurance
practice with them
Permit a child to sleep in the parents' room temporarily
Help them express themselves via
play, drawing, and story telling
Limit media exposure
ages & stages
elementary age kids
Provide extra attention and consideration
Set gentle but firm limits for
acting out behavior
Listen to a child's repeated telling of his/her experience
Point out kind deeds and the ways
in which people helped during the
event
Limit media exposure
Rehearse safety measures for future
incidents
tweens and adolescents
Provide extra attention and consideration
Be there to listen to your children, but don't force
them to talk
Encourage discussion of event
among peers
Help them serve
Healing is an evolving, but some
may need professional help
seek resources… national child traumatic stress network
http://www.nctsn.org
How are couples
impacted?
What do they experience?
fog
gy
uncertainty
conflict
starts as a couple plan A family plan really
follow…
each
other’s lead
“Some call it a blind spot, others naïveté, but Mandela sees almost everyone as virtuous until proven otherwise. He starts with an assumption you are dealing with him in good faith. He believes that, just as pretending to be brave can lead to acts of real bravery, seeing the good in other people improves the chances that they will reveal their better selves.”
seth godin
children watch how parents react and act accordingly