Traumatic events such as car crashes, unexpected diagnoses, or death can leave a lasting impact on the minds of individuals. Children, in particular, are more vulnerable to trauma. They often take more time to get over it, feel sad, behave differently, feel confused, have problems sleeping, become quiet or even blame themselves. Sometimes, they have physical symptoms like stomach aches, headaches, or loss of appetite.
If you see any
of these symptoms in your child, then you need to know how to help your child
overcome trauma. Here are a few tips that might help.
Talking and
Listening
It is an
innovative idea to talk to your child about the traumatic event and answer
their questions. You should explain the traumatic event in detail and tell them
why it happened to ensure that the children don’t blame themselves.
Handing the
Reminders
Sometimes, a
traumatic event can have a long-lasting impact on a child’s mind and make them
afraid of things. For instance, if a child was involved in a fire accident, they
might get afraid when they see fire, even on a gas stove. In such cases, you
need to explain to them that their fears are completely normal and help them
overcome those fears.
Establishing
Routine
Doing routine
things like getting up, going to school, or doing homework are a few things
that can help your child to overcome a traumatic event. In addition to
following a schedule, make sure your child gets healthy food, joins a playgroup,
and follows an activity or passion that they used to follow before.
How to Help a
Toddler or Preschooler to Get Over Traumatic Events
As toddlers and
preschoolers cannot express their feelings well by using words, they need more
care and attention after a traumatic event. You need to know that younger kids
express their feelings through play or by unwanted behavior like tantrums.
Here are a few
things you can do to help
·
When you think that the child
is getting sad, you can distract them by using a song, story, or fun games.
·
If you think your child is
withdrawn, you can use play to explore their emotions. For instance, if you can
ask your child to hug a teddy not to feel alone.
·
Sometimes, children don’t want
to be separated from their parents. In such cases, you need to explain that you
are going away for work, and you will stay safe as the danger is not there.
·
If your child is unable to do
basic tasks like using the toilet, you need to remind or re-train them while
keeping in mind that it’s perfectly normal. Even sucking on the thumb or
wetting the bed is normal.
·
In case the traumatic event is
getting media attention, ensure that your child doesn’t see such news stories.
Final Words
Recovering after
a traumatic event takes time, and you or your child don’t have to do it alone.
You can ask for help if you think you need it. If you think that things are
getting out of hand, talk to your child’s GP. They might refer you to local
services and professionals.
Here are some more tips on parenting a child who has experienced trauma
Read this to know a few ways to heal your childhood trauma.
https://raisingchildren.net.au/preschoolers/connecting-communicating/coping-with-trauma/trauma-support-for-children