Helpful Tips for Children of Any Age

• Make your child feel safe. All children, from toddlers to teens, will benefit from your touch - extra cuddling, hugs or just a reassuring pat on the back. It gives them a feeling of security, which is so important in the aftermath of a frightening or disturbing event. For specific information on what to do and say, see the age-by-age-guide.
• Act calm. Children look to adults for reassurance after traumatic events have occurred. Do not discuss your anxieties with your children, or when they are around, and be aware of the tone of your voice, as children quickly pick up on anxiety.
• Maintain routines as much as possible. Amidst chaos and change, routines reassure children that life will be OK again. Try to have regular mealtimes and bedtimes. If you are homeless or temporarily relocated, establish new routines. And stick with the same family rules, such as ones about good behavior.
• Help children enjoy themselves. Encourage kids to do activities and play with others. The distraction is good for them, and gives them a sense of normalcy.
• Share information about what happened. It's always best to learn the details of a traumatic event from a safe, trusted adult. Be brief, honest, and allow children to ask questions. Don't presume kids are worrying about the same things as adults.
• Pick good times to talk. Look for natural openings to have a discussion.
• Help children relax with breathing exercises. Breathing becomes shallow when anxiety sets in; deep belly breaths can help children calm down. You can hold a feather or wad of cotton in front of your child's mouth and ask them to blow at it, exhaling slowly. Or you can say, "Let's breathe in slowly while I count to three, then breathe out while I count to three." Place a stuffed animal or pillow on your child's belly as they lie down and ask them to breathe in and out slowly and watch the stuffed animal or pillow rise and fall.
• Watch for signs of trauma. Within the first month after a disaster it is common for kids to seem mostly okay. After that, the numbness wears off and kids might experience more symptoms - especially children who have witnessed injuries or death, lost immediate family members, experienced previous trauma in their lives or who are not resettled in a new home.
• Know when to seek help. Although anxiety and other issues may last for months, seek immediate help from your family doctor or from a mental health professional if they do not abate or your child starts to hear voices, see things that are not there, becomes paranoid, experiences panic attacks, or has thoughts of wanting to harm themself or other people.
• Take care of yourself. You can best help your child when you help yourself. Talk about concerns with friends and relatives; it might be helpful to form a support group. If you belong to a church or community group, keep participating. Try to eat right, drink enough water, stick to exercise routines, and get enough sleep. Physical health protects against emotional vulnerability. To reduce stress, do deep breathing. If you suffer from severe anxiety that interferes with your ability to function, seek help from a doctor or mental health professional and if you don't have access to one, talk with a religious leader. Recognize your need for help and get it. Do it for your child's sake, if for no other reason.