How to Help Children Cope with Crisis

With the tragic events that took place in Connecticut, it brings to light an important topic –how do we as parents and caregivers help children cope with crisis. Whether children experience a crisis firsthand or through a media account, there are ways for parents to help children reduce their fear and insecurity

Save the Children recommends parents, teachers, grandparents and caregivers:

1. Limit television time. While it can be important for adults to stay informed about the situation, television images and reports may be confusing and frightening for children. Watching too many television reports can overwhelm children and even adults. So, limit the number of television reports about the situation you and your children watch.

2. Listen to your children carefully. Try to find out what your child knows and understands about the situation before responding to their questions. Children can experience stress when they do not understand dangerous experiences. Find out what your child knows about the crisis. Then, talk to your child to help him or her understand the situation and ease their concerns.

3. Give children reassurance. Tell children that adults are doing everything they can to protect and help children who have been affected by the tragedy. Also, let them know that if an emergency happens, your main concern would be their safety. Make sure they know they are being protected.

4. Be alert for significant changes in behavior. Caregivers should be alert to any significant changes in children’s sleeping patterns, eating habits, and concentration levels. Also watch for wide emotional swings or frequent physical complaints. If any of these actions do happen, they will likely lessen within a short time. If they continue, however, you should seek professional help and counseling for the child.

5. Understand children’s unique needs. Not every child will experience a disaster in the same way. As children develop, their intellectual, physical and emotional abilities change. Younger children will depend largely on their parents to interpret events; older children and adolescents will get information from various sources, such as friends and the media. Remember that children of any age can be affected by a disaster. Provide them all with love, understanding and support.

6. Give your children extra time and attention. Children need close, personal attention to know they are safe. Talk, play and, most importantly, listen to them. Find time to engage in special activities with children of all ages.

7. Be a model for your children. Your children will learn how to deal with these events by seeing how you respond. The amount you tell children about how you’re feeling should depend on the age and maturity of the child. You may be able to disclose more to older or more mature children but remember to do so calmly.

8. Watch your own behavior. Make a point of being sensitive to those impacted by the crisis. This is an opportunity to teach your children that we all need to help each other.

9. Help your children return to a normal routine. Children usually benefit from routine activities such as set eating times, bed time, and playing with others. Parents should make sure their children's school is also returning to normal patterns and not spending a lot of time discussing the disaster.

10. Encourage your children to do volunteer work. Helping others can give children a sense of control and security and promote helping behavior. During a disaster, children and adolescents can bring about positive change by supporting those in need

These tips are also available online at www.savethechildren.org/cope or for download in Spanish at www.savethechildren.org/ayuda.

Wilkes Community Partnership for Children, a local Smart Start agency, is a United Way funded agency.

“Reading with Santa” was well attended by children and families

Approximately 174 families and children attended the “Reading with Santa” event put on by the Wilkes Public Library and the Wilkes Community Partnership for Children on December 8^th . Santa read “The Night before Christmas” and was available for pictures with the children. Children decorated reindeer antlers, made stocking ornaments, and wrote out their wish lists to Santa . Light Refreshments were served to the children. Wilkes Community Partnership for Children is a United Way funded agency.

 

Toy Loan Program to be Established

As the Christmas season approaches many children across Wilkes County will receive new toys.  Toy chests will be cleaned out and old toys will need a new home.  Please consider donating your gently used toys to the Wilkes Community Partnership for Children.  The Partnership for Children is establishing a Family Room which will include a Toy Loan Center (TLC) for children and their families. 

The Toy Loan Center will be a free service which will allow children to borrow toys in the same manner in which they borrow books from the public library.  The children may borrow a maximum of two toys once a week.   

The Toy Loan Center will help:

• To develop a sense of responsibility in children through the observance of an honor code and merit system that gives praise and recognition when toys are returned on time and undamaged.
• To foster positive attitudes in children by providing them an accepted means of obtaining toys.
• To benefit children by keeping their time wholesomely occupied with a variety of toys. 

The success of this concept has been demonstrated over the years in other communities across the United States.  The belief is that the majority of children who borrow toys from the Toy Loan Center will return them in good condition and on time.

Individual donations will help the Toy Loan Center extend services to benefit children and the community! Civic clubs and churches are encouraged to participate by sponsoring toy drives, donating new and gently used toys.  Toys, games and puzzles will be greatly appreciated.  Children looking for a unique way to be honored at their birthday may consider donations to the Toy Loan Center. 

 

All donations to the Toy Loan Center are tax deductible.  For more information on the Toy Loan Center or to set up an appointment to make donation, contact the Wilkes Community Partnership for Children at 838-0977 or info@wilkessmartstart.com.

 

Wilkes Community Partnership for Children will be closed the week of Christmas and will reopen on Monday, December 31^st from 8am to 4pm for your last minute end of the year toy donation.  No appointment is necessary on December 31^st.

 

The Partnership for Children is located at 374 Lincoln Heights Road, Wilkesboro, NC, former site of the CTE Magnet School at Lincoln Heights.

Reading with Santa

The Wilkes Community Partnership for Children and the Wilkes Public Library is hosting a “Reading with Santa” event for young children and their families. Families are invited to attend the event which will be held at the Wilkes Public Library on December 8^th from 11 am to 1 pm. Santa will be reading “The Night before Christmas”, making reindeer antlers, and other fun Christmas Activities. Light Refreshments will be served. For more information call the Wilkes Community Partnership for Children at 838-0977. Wilkes Community Partnership for Children is a United Way funded agency.

Pediatric Series for Child Care Providers

Wilkes Community Partnership for Children hosted a fall educational series for child care providers. The series featured local pediatricians who addressed common medical issues among young children.

Dr. Julie Koch presented a session on "Managing Infectious Diseases in Child Care". The training was a review of common illnesses, management of symptoms, and exclusion/inclusion criteria.

 Dr. Jerry Pinkerton taught providers all about flu: seasonal flu and H1N1, flu like illness and other respiratory illnesses, including pertussis. A review of appropriate exclusion and inclusion, when to worry, and universal precautions were addressed.

 Dr. Julie Koch taught a lesson on  "Asthma, Allergies, and Anaphylaxis." Participants reviewed disease process, triggers, use of rescue medications, and care plans for children who suffer from these conditions.

 Dr. Ila Baugham ended the 4 part series with a presentation on Autism, Aspergers, and Sensory Integration. She addressed behaviors and management in the classroom, accommodation of sensory needs and held a question-answer session.

 The sessions were well attended by child care providers.  Wilkes Community Partnership for Children would like to thank all of the pediatricians who volunteered their time and the providers who attended so we can achieve better health outcomes for the children in Wilkes County.

Wilkes Community Partnership for Children , a local Smart Start Agency, is a United Way funded agency.

Open House: Lowes Heroes

Open House: Lowes Heroes presented Wilkes Smart Start with a t-shirt signed by all the volunteers and an album of pictures of the Wilkes Family Central site before and after the wonderful improvements. Wilkes Smart Start is so appreciative to Lowes Heroes and the great volunteers.