Photo © 2011 AP Photo / Kyodo News

Create a safe environment

• Repeatedly reassure your children of their safety and your love for them.

• Give extra attention and time at bedtime.  Children may become more anxious about separating from you, particularly at bedtime. 

Limit exposure

• Don’t expose children to mass coverage of the devastation. It’s important to limit the amount of exposure where possible, and ensure they are supervised so you can answer questions and concerns.

• Minimise exposure to scary images and adult conversation about the devastation of the disaster.

Listen to their concerns and answer questions honestly

• Take time to listen.  Children may have many worries from exposure to a disaster. Listen and answer their questions as simply and honestly as you can.  Correct any misunderstandings that may have come from other children.

• Give factual information about what happened, appropriate for their age. Provide a learning experience by giving facts about the type of the disaster to help children understand and have a sense of mastery about the event.

• With younger children, follow disaster-related conversations with a comforting activity or story to help them feel safe and calm.

Don’t avoid the issue

• Be honest, don’t avoid their questions. Children need to feel that there is a sense of control and will look to adults for this.

• Explain all the things people are doing to assist the situation. Show them positive steps are being taken and that people are in control of a response.

• Allow children to be sad and cry; these are normal expressions of emotion.

• Some children express fears that the disaster will affect them and their loved ones.  Give reassurance that you are looking after them and love them.

• Help children see the good things in the world around them.

Save The Children Australia - http://savethechildren.org.au