Helping Children

Children are affected by trauma as much as adults are, but they may show it differently. They may go back to behaviours they grew out of long ago, like bed-wetting or thumb-sucking. They may be fearful and clingy.

Caregivers may misunderstand children’s needs after a disaster. They may think that children will  bounce back without help. It is easy to see some strange behaviour as disobedience. As a result, they may think children need to be disciplined more or they may punish them out of frustration. Such responses make things worse.

Caregivers can feel overwhelmed. They can feel helpless. But maybe all children need is to be comforted, reassured and listened to. Caregivers may feel limited because of their own trauma. But they can give time and love.  Love, compassion and time are powerful. This is the message of  1 John 4:12
  . . . if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

Even if we have only a small amount of love and compassion to give because of our own trauma, God will perfect it in us.  The Greek word for ‘perfect’ means to ‘add what is missing to make it complete; to bring to the desired end.’ Give whatever you can in love and God will do his miraculous part.