There are typical reactions and behaviors that are seen in "children who have experienced a natural disaster." Please pay careful attention to your child as to whether or not he/she shows any signs. In this page we mainly compiled children's reactions and behaviors that are often seen after the disaster, and how you should cope with them, when your child shows any of them.
If your child is an infant
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Increased sensitivity to even faint sounds as to startling or crying. |
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Decreased/absence of facial expression
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Children may be strongly influenced by a different living environment and/or by the anxieties of adults around them.
It is important for adults to talk and to have physical contact with them in a relaxed atmosphere; such as hugging, holding, touching, etc.
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Loss of appetite for milk and/or weak sucking
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When your child shows any of the symptoms and signs above, he/she may get dehydrated, therefore, take him/her to a doctor immediately.
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If your child is preschooler and /or young school-ager (4 to 7 years old).
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Behave younger than their age, some time behaving like baby |
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Ask to be hold; i.e. cuddling, hugging, holding, etc |
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Excessive clinging to their parent(s. |
Do you see any of these behaviors in your child more often than before the disaster?
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Apathy, emotional numbing, loss of facial expression |
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Decreased concentration and attention span |
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Frequent urination, pant-wetting |
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Self-harm (includes nail-biting, pulling own hair, etc. |
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Behaviors that usually had not seen in children; easy to cry and/or to become angry, increased irritability and/or impatience, and outburst of violent behaviors |
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Playing with make-believe earthquake, building and destroying of blocks, play with violent tendency |
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Panic behaviors (When they encounter the similar situation as they have experienced during disaster they are prone to panic behaviors. |
Does your child show any of these symptoms/behaviors that are not seen before the disaster?
ou may be worried about any of your child's reactions and behaviors as listed on the previous page. However, it is quite normal for children to show these reactions and behaviors under such circumstances. As long as their pattern of daily life is remain the same, leave the children as they are for the time being to see if they are likely to return to previous functioning by interacting with them as below.
It is important to use a supportive and compassionate verbal or non-verbal exchange with the children, to reassure them adult (parents/family) are looking after them, to explain what is happening or giving them a hug to help them feel safe and connected.In some cases children may try to work out their emotions that can not be expressed by words through plays listed before.Playing with them by drawing pictures or by using toys such as blocks and stuffed animals may be useful to make them vent their feelings on. It is also effective to let them play with other children.However, as unnecessary separations from their parent(s) and their family members may give them anxiety and fear, it is important to respect their feelings.
If any of these reactions or behaviors above are repeated, prolonged, or shown in a excessive degree, it is necessary to consult medical, psychological, educational, or other related professionals.
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If your child is upper grades of school-ager (approximately 8-12).
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Apathy, emotional numbing, loss of facial expression, decreased concentration and attention span |
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Frequent urination, bedwetting, loosing bowl control |
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Sleep disorders, fatigue |
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Emotional burst ( easy to cry and to become angry. |
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Behaviors that have not be seen in children before, such as increased irritability and/or impatience, and outburst of violent behaviors
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Behave younger than their age, such as thumb-sucking, babytalk, and others. |
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Fighting, breaking things |
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Panic behaviors such as flashbacks |
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Alopecia / loosing hair |
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Stammering / Stuttering |
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Excessively too good children |
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Excessively exertive and persevere children |
Children this age usually can express their feelings with words, and communicate with others, however, sometimes, they may act younger than their age
Children may feel helpless, isolated, or restless when they see adultsbusy rebuilding their lives and the lives of their families.Create work activities which children can join in to let them find their role as a member of their family or of their evacuate shelter.It is necessary to find work that is safe and achievable tasks.
They may do destructive plays such as throuwing and breaking things. As long as such play is harmless, it is better to offer other acceptable plays that let them express their feelings than to warn them to stop it. On the other hand, forcing them to express their feelings of sadness, anxiety, fears should be avoided.Since older children may keep a diary or draw to feel better, as well as share their experiences by talking about them, it is necessary to have these materials for them or to create such a kind of activities and environment.
When a school has started, they may alleviate stress by talking and playing with their friends and teachers. However, forcing them to go to school may increase their anxiety. If you are worried about your child's reactions or behaviors, it is advisable to contact and consult with a school teacher and/or nurse.
Parent(s) as an adult tend to avoid telling their children about what going on around them for fear of making them worried. However, it is important to clearly explain to them about what is going on and what adults are trying to do against the difficult situation in an easy understandable way.By doing so, children will feel that they are respected as a member of their family.
Since children can understand what is going on in the world of adults, some children may hold back from telling about what they feel or by being extremely careful not to annoy others.In that case, it is necessary to let them express their feelings little by little. For example, by fondling and giving them reassuring words such as "whenever you feel difficulties or want something, do not hesitate to tell me. I am always here to listen to you."
Regardless of children's age, whether they are small children, school-aged children, or adolescences, plays or sports which involves in a group activity may ease their tensions in their feelings.
If any of these reactions or behaviors above are repeated, prolonged, or shown in a excessive degree, it is necessary to consult medical, psychological, educational, nursing, or other related professionals.
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Are there any reaction or behavior of your child's that makes you worried about ?
