51吃瓜网

Here are some ideas to use at home/school.

1. Provide loving, nurturing comfort and care.听Offer extra hugs and closeness.
   听
2. Answer children鈥檚 questions directly, honestly, and age appropriately.听Explain disaster-related language in terms children will understand. Don鈥檛 offer more information than children are interested in, and don鈥檛 force children to talk. Be prepared to answer the same questions over and over.
   听
3. Review with children their daily schedule鈥攚ake up, go to school, play and learn at school, pickup, dinner, and bedtime.听Routines make children feel secure.
   听
4. Remind children that their parents will be there at the end of the day.听Establish or strengthen rituals to reinforce this: 鈥淲hen you finish the afternoon meeting, it will be time to take the bus home.鈥�
   听
5. Encourage children to express their emotions鈥攅ven anger.听Help children understand their feelings and find healthy outlets for them. Provide lots of art materials, sand and water play, dance, and dramatic play where children can safely express sadness or anger.
   听
6. Come up with projects where children help others affected by a traumatic event, such as making get well cards for people in the hospital.听Helping activities build compassion and give children a sense of control.
   听
7. Reassure children that they鈥檙e safe, and point out all the ways that parents and teachers make them safe.听Post, review, and practice evacuation plans with the children.
   听
8. Offer stress-reducing activities such as yoga, meditation, and mindfulness exercises.
   听
9. Create cozy spaces where children can be alone, be sad, be angry, or think about things.听Add beanbag chairs, pillows, and stuffed animals for comfort.
   听
10. Read aloud books about disasters, such as听Freddy the Frogcaster and the Huge Hurricane,听by Janice Dean, to encourage discussion.听Offer appropriate comments: 鈥淭he frog in the story is very helpful. There were lots of kind people who helped us after the hurricane.鈥�
    听
11. Point out good things that have听happened, such as people helping each other and the community banding together.