Whether a child has personally experienced trauma, has merely seen the event on television, or has heard it discussed by adults, it is important for parents and caregivers to be informed and ready to help if reactions to stress begin to occur.
Below are some resources child care providers and parents can use in their work with children who have faced a disaster or traumatic event.
Helping Children Cope with Media Coverage
- Helping Your Child Cope with Media Coverage of Disasters: A Fact Sheet for Parents (PDF download) – Disaster and Community Crisis Center
- How to Talk to Your Child About the News – KidsHealth
- Explaining the News to Our Kids – Common Sense Media
Tips for Parents and Caregivers
- ZERO TO THREE: infant and early childhood mental health resources.
- NCTSN Resource: Helping Young Children Heal After a Crisis
- National Child Traumatic Stress Network: Assisting Parents/Caregivers in Coping with Collective Trauma (PDF download)
- National Association of School Psychologists: Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers
- National Child Traumatic Stress Network: Talking to Children about the Shooting (PDF download)
- Tips for Protecting Children in Violence-Based Emergencies (Save the Children)
- Listen, protect, connect (LPC) Psychological First Aid System
- Caring for Ourselves as We Care for Others is a brief from the Understanding Trauma and Healing in Adults series that provides information about trauma and how traumatic events can affect families and staff.
- AAP: Talking to Children About Tragedies and Other News Events
- Coalition to Support Grieving Students, Talking with Children
- National Center on Early Childhood Health and Wellness: Helping Your Child Cope After a Disaster (PDF download)
- Ready.gov: Helping Children Cope
- Save the Children: 10 Tips for Helping Children Cope with Disaster
- Psychological First Aid: Parent Tips for Helping Infants and Toddlers after Disasters (PDF download)
- FEMA Accessible: Helping Children Cope After a Disaster
Social-Emotional Resources:
- Child Life Disaster Relief
- National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement
- National Child Traumatic Stress Network
- Child Mind Institute
- Supporting Children who are Experiencing Stress (PDF download)
- Let’s Talk about Feelings: Brain Building Tips for Encouraging Healthy Emotional Development in Young Children (PDF download). Also available in Spanish.
- Children’s Responses to Crises and Tragic Events (PDF download) – National Center on Early Childhood Health and Wellness
- Comfort Kits for Kids (PDF download) – Child Care Aware of Missouri
- Sesame Street Resources
- Feeling Safe, Being Safe (PDF download) – California Department of Developmental Services
- National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement
Supporting Children Who Have Faced Trauma Infographic (Click to view the full infographic and use your browser to zoom in if needed.)
Books for Helping Children Cope:
- Chandra Gosh Ippen’s children’s book Once I Was Very Very Scared
- Children and Disasters Book List (PDF download) – Click to explore books for helping children cope with disasters, violence or other traumatic events. Find books for every age level.
- Read for Resilience
