Caring for Children
During and after an emergency, children of all ages may exhibit a range of emotions - fear, behavioral regression, and emotional withdrawal. School and childcare givers can find information about this important topic at www.canadiandisasterchildcare.ca. Emergency Social Services also provide for psychologists at emergency receptions centers.
Children Under Age 5 Most at Risk: In a review of published literature, the researchers found that the highest mortality rates following armed conflicts, natural disasters, population displacements or famines are often in children younger than five years. The most common causes of death are diarrhea, acute respiratory infections, measles, malaria and malnutrition.
Canadian Disaster Child Care (CDCC) trains volunteers to provide specialized childcare that focuses on using play to help children work through their feelings and regain control over their environment following a disaster. Workshop topics include: defining disaster (ranging from death in the family, war, earthquakes, etc.); recovery stages; children's behaviours and how they change in disaster; how we respond; celebrating cultural richness; empathetic listening; setting up a child - centred space; and team building.
In disaster response situations CDCC has gained valuable experience at various locations. In Canada CDCC worked at shelters following the Montreal Ice Storm and with Health Canada at four military sustainment sites with Kosovar children who came to Canada under Operation Parasol, a response that was multidimensional and sustained over a relatively long period of time. More recently volunteers responded to the Tudor House Fire in Cranbrook, British Columbia and flooding in Edmonton, Alberta. Since 1995 volunteers have provided child care at the Edmonton Centre for Survivors of Torture and Trauma (ECSTT). In the United States our volunteers were activated following the Florida Hurricanes in 2004, California earthquakes and flooding in Oregon, Washington and Louisiana.
Caring for Kids After Trauma, Disaster and Deaths
A disaster is frightening to everyone. Several factors play an important part in a child's reaction to the event. Children will be affected by the amount of direct exposure they have had to the disaster. If a friend or family member has been killed or seriously injured and/or the child's school, home or neighborhood has been destroyed or severely damaged, there is a greater chance that the child will experience difficulties. Adults can help children grieve by patiently listening and being able to tolerate feelings. This is a major factor in a child's perception of adults' reactions to the disaster. Children are very aware of adults' worries most of the time but they are particularly sensitive during the period of a disaster. Acknowledging your concerns to the children is important, as is your ability to cope with stress. Another factor that affects a child's response is his/her developmental age. Talking about the disaster together using words children can understand is important, as is being sensitive to their different responses.
Internet Resources
Helping Children Cope: Information on helping children cope during stressful times, includes information on family communication. http://www.extension.uiuc.edu/ruralroute/helpingchildrencope.pdf
Supporting Distressed Young People Fact Sheet: Tips on how to help young people deal with stress and what to expect. http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/familydevelopment/DE2786.html
How You Can Help Mom or Dad: Information for children on ways they can help their parents in stressful times. http://www.extension.uiuc.edu/ruralroute/howyoucanhelpmomordad.pdf
Supporting Families Following a Disaster: The University of Arizona College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Cooperative Extension has designed this series of fact sheets covering special needs of families during difficult times. http://ag.arizona.edu/fcs/supporting_families/