Parenting through Death or Tragedy - Tips for Parents and Caring Adults
Offer reassurance and help your child feel secure. When children are exposed to violent or
traumatic events - even through the news or media - they need to hear that "scary" things are
not likely to happen to them. Let them know that school and home are safe places to be, and
that incidents like the September 11 tragedies are rare. Your child may need to be in more
physical contact with you or rely on favorite stuffed toys or blankets.
Be a role model. Children pick up clues from adults, especially when they have difficulty
knowing what to do with their own emotions like anger or fear. Showing composure can
provide a great sense of security to a child. Make sure comments or actions at home model
how you would like your child to behave. Be especially aware of conversations with other
adults in cars, on the phone, or in other places where your child may overhear you.
Limit exposure to TV and other media. This is especially important for younger children,
for whom the violence in the media can be particularly frightening. If you have an older schoolage child,
you may want to watch the news together and talk about what you're seeing.
Acknowledge your child's feelings. Instead of saying, "Don't feel sad," you might say,
"It seems like you feel sad. I feel that way, too." Reassure your child that what is happening is
scary and confusing, and validate your child's many feelings.
If possible, spend more time with your child. Younger children often react to stressful or
fearful situations by being more clingy or needy than usual.
Maintain routines. Trying to maintain normal family routines and schedules can become comforting
to a child.
Increase quiet time. Add quiet time for the family in the evenings or make reading and
quiet time before bed longer.
Watch for changes in your child's behavior. Your child may be more aggressive in school,
wake up frequently in the middle of the night, be more clingy at home, or cry more often.
These are all signs that your child is experiencing stress. Your child may need extra reassurance
and support from you.
Monitor your child's activities and play. Your child may begin to act out much of what he is
absorbing from other sources.
If your child seems to be having trouble coping, seek professional help. Ask your
pediatrician, school guidance counselor, clergy person, or employee assistance program
(EAP) for names of counselors who specialize in working with young children
in your area.
- by Sharon Pearson, Church Publishing
Internet Resources
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rev-emily-c-heath/dealing-with-grief-five-t_b_2303910.html
an excellent articles on the 5 things NOT to say and 5 things to say to children about grief and tragedy
http://www.sharemylesson.com/article.aspx?storyCode=50007527 helping children cope with traumatic events
http://fci.org/new-site/par-tragic-events.html Mr. Rogers lives on with his wise words about frightening things and children
http://www.er-d.org/userfiles/Tips-for-Parents-in-Helping-Children-and-Youth-Cope.pdf tips for parents to
help their children and youth cope in times of tragedy (from Episcopal Relief & Development)
When Someone Dies –http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/emotion/somedie.html
and Being Afraid http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/emotion/afraid.html
a site for children from the KidsHealth arena of The Nemours Foundation Center for Children’s Health Media
Talking to Kids About School Violence -http://www.aboutourkids.org/aboutour/articles/school_violence_tips.html
Talking with kids about the News – ten tips on how to watch television with your children
and talk about the events seen involving violence in the world.
http://www.talkingwithkids.org/television/twk-news.html
PBS Parents Guide to Talking with Kids about the News – Strategies for Talking, Listening
and Caring by learning how to answering children’s challenging questions by seeing
the world through their eyes at http://www.pbs.org/parents/talkingwithkids/news/
traumatic events - even through the news or media - they need to hear that "scary" things are
not likely to happen to them. Let them know that school and home are safe places to be, and
that incidents like the September 11 tragedies are rare. Your child may need to be in more
physical contact with you or rely on favorite stuffed toys or blankets.
Be a role model. Children pick up clues from adults, especially when they have difficulty
knowing what to do with their own emotions like anger or fear. Showing composure can
provide a great sense of security to a child. Make sure comments or actions at home model
how you would like your child to behave. Be especially aware of conversations with other
adults in cars, on the phone, or in other places where your child may overhear you.
Limit exposure to TV and other media. This is especially important for younger children,
for whom the violence in the media can be particularly frightening. If you have an older schoolage child,
you may want to watch the news together and talk about what you're seeing.
Acknowledge your child's feelings. Instead of saying, "Don't feel sad," you might say,
"It seems like you feel sad. I feel that way, too." Reassure your child that what is happening is
scary and confusing, and validate your child's many feelings.
If possible, spend more time with your child. Younger children often react to stressful or
fearful situations by being more clingy or needy than usual.
Maintain routines. Trying to maintain normal family routines and schedules can become comforting
to a child.
Increase quiet time. Add quiet time for the family in the evenings or make reading and
quiet time before bed longer.
Watch for changes in your child's behavior. Your child may be more aggressive in school,
wake up frequently in the middle of the night, be more clingy at home, or cry more often.
These are all signs that your child is experiencing stress. Your child may need extra reassurance
and support from you.
Monitor your child's activities and play. Your child may begin to act out much of what he is
absorbing from other sources.
If your child seems to be having trouble coping, seek professional help. Ask your
pediatrician, school guidance counselor, clergy person, or employee assistance program
(EAP) for names of counselors who specialize in working with young children
in your area.
- by Sharon Pearson, Church Publishing
Internet Resources
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rev-emily-c-heath/dealing-with-grief-five-t_b_2303910.html
an excellent articles on the 5 things NOT to say and 5 things to say to children about grief and tragedy
http://www.sharemylesson.com/article.aspx?storyCode=50007527 helping children cope with traumatic events
http://fci.org/new-site/par-tragic-events.html Mr. Rogers lives on with his wise words about frightening things and children
http://www.er-d.org/userfiles/Tips-for-Parents-in-Helping-Children-and-Youth-Cope.pdf tips for parents to
help their children and youth cope in times of tragedy (from Episcopal Relief & Development)
When Someone Dies –http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/emotion/somedie.html
and Being Afraid http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/emotion/afraid.html
a site for children from the KidsHealth arena of The Nemours Foundation Center for Children’s Health Media
Talking to Kids About School Violence -http://www.aboutourkids.org/aboutour/articles/school_violence_tips.html
Talking with kids about the News – ten tips on how to watch television with your children
and talk about the events seen involving violence in the world.
http://www.talkingwithkids.org/television/twk-news.html
PBS Parents Guide to Talking with Kids about the News – Strategies for Talking, Listening
and Caring by learning how to answering children’s challenging questions by seeing
the world through their eyes at http://www.pbs.org/parents/talkingwithkids/news/