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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) encourages parents, teachers,\nchild care providers, and others who work closely with children to filter\ninformation about the event and present it in a way that their child can\nunderstand, adjust to, and cope with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No matter what age or\ndevelopmental stage the child is, parents can start by asking a child what\nthey\u2019ve already heard. After listening to them, you should ask them what\nquestions they have. Older children, teens, and young adults might ask more\nquestions and may request and benefit more from additional information. No\nmatter what age the child is however, it\u2019s best to keep the dialogue\nstraightforward and direct.\u200b<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In general, it is\nrecommended to provide basic information with children so they can understand\nwhat\u2019s going on, but avoid sharing any graphic or unnecessary details about\ntragic circumstances. You may need to keep young children away from repetitive\ngraphic images and sounds that may appear on television, radio, or\non-line. You may also need to monitor\nyour child\u2019s internet and social media activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to\nmonitoring what information your child consumes, it is also suggested that you\nare with them as they consume it. One tip is to record news programming and\nplan time to watch it with your children. By doing this, you can preview and\nevaluate the content ahead of time and take the opportunity to pause and\ndiscuss the information being shared and even potentially skip inappropriate\ncontent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is important to understand that every child, regardless\nof their age or abilities be spoken to, it is also important to tailor the\nmessage you deliver to your child based their comprehension level. Children as\nyoung as four years old are entitled are entitled to accurate information, but\nmight not require as many details as school-aged children or teens. Parents of children with developmental delays should\nunderstand that they might have specialized needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Signs of your child\nnot coping well with certain current events may include problems sleeping or sudden\nchanges in behavior including sadness, depression, or social regression. Younger\nchildren might experience separation anxiety while teens might start experiment\nwith tobacco, alcohol, or other substances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The most important\nthing to do when talking with your child is to reinforce that you are there for\nthem and encourage them to come to you if they have any questions or concerns. They need to know that you will make it\nthrough these difficult times together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you feel your child may need professional help getting through recent events, Jamaica Hospital\u2019s Psychiatry Department <\/a>offers outpatient child and adolescent services.\u00a0 To make a virtual appointment with a member of our team, please call 718-206-5575.<\/p>\n All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.<\/strong> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The last year has presented all of us with so much devastating news to process. While these difficult times can be challenging for adults to deal with, they can be even tougher to navigate for children. Many parents and other … Continue reading