James Madison University's
Nursing Students Association
Last Updated:  January 16, 2007
 
Table of Contents

 
Crisis Management for Children
 
Children's Response to Trauma
What Can Parents Do?
- All children will react differently depending
upon their age, maturity and personality type.
YOUNG CHILDREN (1-6 years)
- Generalized fear and confusion  * Maintain routine
- Nightmares  * Avoid unnecessary separations
- Difficulty verbalizing event  * Maintain calm atmosphere
- Regressive symptoms (e.g. bedwetting)  * Simple, brief talks about event
- Unable to understand death as permanent  * Help child sort out feelings
- Anxieties about death  * Monitor child's coping
- Fussiness, uncharacteristic crying, and neediness  * Expect a change in behavior
SCHOOL-ADGED CHILDREN (6-11 years)
- Sleep disturbance  * Listen to child's feelings
- Preoccupation with danger * Respect fears
- Reminders trigger disturbing feelings  * Increase monitoring of play
- Fears on punishment  * Monitor school performance
- Responsibility and guilt  * Talk to about death 
- Concerned about separation from parents 
- Relating to event in own life
- Unclear understanding of death- magical explanations used by children
- Withdrawal
- Aggressive behavior
- Loss of ability to concentrate in school
ADOLESCENTS (12-18 years)
- Rebellion and home or school 
- Withdrawal from social activities 
- Abrupt shift in relationships		 * Encourage time with friends
* Reassurance of normal feelings
- Sleep disturbance
- Driven into increased activity involvement OR retreat from others
- Acting out behaviors (e.g. risk-taking behaviors)
HOW TO HELP YOUR CHILD COPE? 
  • Be honest about what happened: provide information appropriate with developmental level. 
  • Start by asking what they hare heard about the event. 
  • Look for opportunities to arise to talk about the event. 
  • Provide emotional support so your child will feel safe and ask questions about the event. 
  • Be aware that children will pick up on your anxiety. 
  • Respect wishes not to talk, and be open to when they are ready to talk. 
  • New issues may arise over time so be open to discussing the event on an ongoing basis. 
  • Keep events in perspective and that the world is generally a safe place and that this is a rare event. 
WHAT TO DO IF PARENTS OR SIBLINGS ARE DEPLOYED: 
Act before they leave if possible: Contact is critical
  • Videotape or tape record, it is important for your child hear love ones voice 
  • Write letters - write ahead of time so they can read one per week 

    • Keep family photos accessible 

INFORMATIVE LINKS: 
The Federal Emergency Management Agency http://www.fema.gov/kids/

National Center of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder http://www.ncptsd.org/

Books to help children cope with grief and fear

More good informational links
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