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Helping Kids Cope With Grief (VIDEO)
We’ve all been rocked by the images of the devastation in Haiti. But for children, coping and coming to terms with a disaster on that scale can be a much more difficult process than it is for adults. Kids haven’t built up that protective emotional callus to this sort of news, and seeing images of other children hurt or dying can be even more upsetting to them than it can be for us.
Dr. Bob Hilt, director of psychiatric emergency medicine at Seattle Children’s Hospital, has released a video (linked after the jump) with some tips for parents about how to help their children cope with a disaster and with grief in general.
Keeping routines, often one of the hardest things to do in a crisis, is an important part of helping children cope with the loss of a loved one. In the case of disasters that don’t touch your family directly, Dr. Hilt suggests turning off the TV when kids are around, and shielding them from graphic images in newspapers or magazines. If you must have the TV on, watch with your child and talk about what you’re seeing. Ask what they know about it and what they want to know, and be honest. Simple, reassuring responses such as “It happened a long way from here” are helpful, as is pointing out all the people who are stepping in to help.
The most important thing is to reassure your child that he or she is safe and will not be left alone, he says.
Are you talking to your kids about Haiti? What are you telling them?
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