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Jackson Avenue
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Evacuation Procedures |
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Principal, ROBERT CORRADO
2004-2005 In light of the times that we live in we are making available excerpts from the following reports from the National Assoc. of School Psychologists (NASP) entitled, Children and Fear of War and Terrorism and the American Red Cross Disaster Services. (This article in its entirety is available at www.nasponline.org/NEAT/children_war_general.html ) : Terrorist attacks in our country and threats or realities of war are frightening experiences for all Americans. Children may be especially fearful that threatened or actual military action overseas will result in more personal loss and violence here at home. The degree to which children are affected will vary depending on personal circumstances. Children who have suffered a personal loss from, or had firsthand exposure to, terrorist acts or military actions will be much more vulnerable. Also at greater risk are children whose parents are in the military or in active duty in the reserve forces, and those children whose parents are involved in emergency response or public safety. All children, however, are likely to be affected in some way by war or terrorism involving our country. For many, the guidance of caring adults will make the difference between being overwhelmed and developing life-long emotional and psychological coping skills. Teachers and caretakers can help restore childrens sense of security by modeling calm and in-control behavior. It is crucial to provide opportunity for children to discuss their concerns and to help them separate real from imagined fears. It is also important to limit exposure to media coverage of violence. What Can Parents and Teachers Do?Everyone, including adults, feels stressed during times of crisis and uncertainty. If your children or students seem to need help beyond what is normally available at home or school, seek mental health services in your community. School psychologists, counselors and social workers can help identify appropriate services and help with the referral process. For most children, adults can provide adequate support by the following actions: § Acknowledge children's feelings - At times when your children or students are most upset, don't deny the seriousness of the situation. Saying to children, Don't cry, everything will be okay," does not reflect how the child feels and does not make them feel better. Nevertheless, don't forget to express hope and faith that things will be okay. At times when your children or students are most upset, don't deny the seriousness of the situation. Saying to children, Don't cry, everything will be okay," does not reflect how the child feels and does not make them feel better. Nevertheless, don't forget to express hope and faith that things will be okay. Always be honest with children. Share your fears and concerns while reassuring them that responsible adults are in charge.
- Help children understand that precautions are being taken to prevent terrorism or attacks on the United States. While these efforts might seem scary or frustrating to children, explain that these precautions might actually make them safer now than they were before. - If participation in a faith community is part of your family life, talk to your faith leader about how to help your child think about the concepts of death and killing, in age-appropriate terms. This can be very important to calming childrens fears for their own safety and that of loved ones. - Try to maintain normal routines and schedules to provide a sense of stability and security. - Stop children from stereotyping people from specific cultures or countries. Children can easily generalize negative statements. Adding tolerance curriculum to school lessons during this time can help prevent harrassment of students and improve their sense of safety. Help children maintain a sense of control by taking some action: Send letters, cookies or magazines to those in the military and public safety jobs. - Help older children find a family who has a parent on active duty and arrange some volunteer babysitting times for that family or offer to provide meals occassionally. If a family member is away, make plans for some special activities Pay special attention to children who may feel isolated: - Children who are new in school due to relocation may benefit from a special network of friends to help orient the student to new school routines and encourage participation in school activities. - Children who are one of a few with parents involved in the military may need extra attention to their feelings of separation and fear of loss. Expect and respond to changes in behavior: All children will likely display some signs of stress. Some immature, aggressive, oppositional behaviors are normal reactions to the uncertainty of this situation. - It is important to maintain consistent expectations for behavior. Be sure children understand that the same rules apply. - Some children may have difficulty at bedtime, particularly those whose parents are on active duty. Maintain a regular bedtime routine. Be flexible about nightlights, siblings sharing a room, sleeping with special toys, and sitting with your child as they fall asleep. Doing so typically does not cause life-long habits. - Extra support, consistency, and patience will help children return to routines and their more usual behavior patterns. Keep adult issues from overwhelming children: Don't let your children focus too much of their time and energy on this crisis. If children are choosing to watch the news for hours each evening, find other activities for them. You may also need to watch the news less intensely and spend more time in alternative family activities. - Take time for yourself and try to deal with your own reactions to the situation as fully as possible. This, too, will help your children and students. Coordinate between school and home: - Parents and other caregivers need to let school personnel know if a family member is being called to active duty or sent overseas. Tell your childs teacher if he or she is having difficulties and what strategies make your child feel better. - Teachers should let parents know if their child is exhibiting stress in school. Provide parents with helpful suggestions or information on community resources. - Teachers should share with parents information about social studies/history lessons and other relevant discussions that take place in the classroom. This will help parents understand what their children are learning and can foster thoughtful discussion at home. - Create a sense of collective security between home and school. This will help children feel safe and provide a sense of protection.
Raw, unedited footage of terrorism events and people's reaction to those events can be very upsetting, especially to children. We do not recommend that children watch television news reports about such events, especially if the news reports show images over and over again about the same incident. Young children do not realize that it is repeated video footage, and think the event is happening again and again. Adults may also need to give themselves a break from watching disturbing footage. [This excerpted information is taken from the Red Cross web site and is available in its entirety at http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/keepsafe/unexpected.html ] We hope this information is of benefit to you, Robert Corrado Janet James Last Update:
10/09/2004 |