How you can help will depend on whether a disaster or community trauma happens while you are at school, if you are helping in the community or if school has returned; however, there are some things you can do to reassure the children in your care.
Remain calm. If you need a moment away, ask for someone to help look after your responsibilities for a moment and take some time to breathe. Children can also pick up if you are upset or stressed, which can sometimes frighten them more.
Remove yourself and children in your care from sights, smells, sounds and circumstances of the incident as much as possible. Look for a quiet, settled place where there are other people.
Don’t let children be interviewed by the media and try to keep them away from scenes of destruction or violence. Try to keep them away from other distressed adults and other people talking about what happened.
Tell children they are safe (when this is the case). Tell them that they have you and other adults looking out for them and that they will be with their families soon.
Be mindful of children’s needs and reactions and be responsive to them. Reassure the child that their reactions are normal and will pass in time.
Be gentle and accept all responses. Don’t tell them to ‘be good’, ‘stop being silly’ or to ‘be brave’.
Remember that most children will need time for their natural resilience to emerge and develop, but will need addition support, care and sensitivity from adults to help this process along.
It is likely that children will not be able to concentrate on learning after a disaster or community trauma. Focus instead on calming and/or creative activities, like having story time, singing songs, listening to music or quiet conversation together.
Make sure you look after your own safety and wellbeing. You cannot help the children in your care without you being OK.