'Access those natural supports': How parents can talk to their kids about traumatic stories
With frightening situations happening all around us, it’s important for parents and caregivers to find a way to talk to their kids about what’s going on in the world and help them through it.
One example of a scary situation happened this week in Winnipeg when a group of kids fell from a collapsed walkway during a field trip at Fort Gibraltar.
Clinical psychologist Jo Ann Unger said different kids will have different reactions to hearing about this incident.
“For some kids it’s going to be a bit scary. You know, if they’ve been there before or if they have their own field trips and things coming up that they can identify with the kids. That might be hard for them to hear,” she said in an interview on Friday.
“They might have empathy for the other children or you know, for some kids, they’ll just roll with it.”
For kids who have witnessed frightening incidents, Unger said there’s a natural reaction that people go through in these situations that may involve difficulty sleeping, irritability and feeling upset. She said parents should be there to comfort their children, show them empathy and give them an opportunity to talk.
“Really access those natural supports because when any of us, including children, experience an event like that, we all have these reactions, which are really normal,” she said, adding that if kids are experiencing difficulties for an extended period then it might be time to seek out extra supports.
It’s also important for parents and caregivers to check with their kids to see what they’ve been hearing about, because children have a number of sources for information including their friends, social media and the news. Checking in with them also gives parents and caregivers a chance to provide reassurance and correct any misconceptions.
“It’s really important to check in and see how they’re doing on a regular basis,” Unger said.
“Just listen to their thoughts and feelings about the situation and providing that empathy.”
Unger added parents should also tell their kids about the people who are helping in these situations, and let them know how the issues resolved.
- With files from CTV’s Rachel Lagace.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Fluid in eye cells can 'boil' if you watch the eclipse without protection: expert
Millions of people in parts of Eastern and Atlantic Canada will be able to see the rare solar eclipse happening on April 8. But they should only look up if they have proper eye protection, experts say.
He didn't trust police but sought their help anyway. Two days later, he was dead
Jameek Lowery was among more than 330 Black people who died after police stopped them with tactics that aren’t supposed to be deadly, like physical restraint and use of stun guns, The Associated Press found.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
Being harassed at work? What to consider when deciding what to do next
If you've been the victim of workplace harassment, it can be difficult to feel you're not alone - and even more difficult to know where to go with a complaint.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Half of Canadians support TikTok ban, with U.S. concerns 'trickling' north: poll
A new poll indicates 51 per cent of Canadians support banning the social media app TikTok, after a U.S. bill aiming to do just that passed in the House of Representatives.
Where is the worst place for allergy sufferers in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
More unauthorized products for skin, sexual enhancement, recalled: Here are the recalls of this week
Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency recalled various items this week, including torches, beef biltong and unauthorized products related to skin care and sexual enhancement.