Keep this in mind when teaching children about earthquakes.
Dr. Dr. Özcan drew attention to the following points:
“Don’t act like you’re not sorry when you talk about it. If they’re not ready to talk, don’t force them. It will be enough to say “I’m sorry for what happened” instead of heavy emotional sentences. Be willing to listen, but don’t be pushy. If your child asks difficult questions, you can say that you will learn/think about it and provide information later. Social media/news content may not be suitable for children, please check the content they are viewing.”
“Children can have different mental and emotional reactions”
Dr. Özcan listed the points to keep in mind when talking to children:
“Keep calm, speak softly and politely. Hear their thoughts on the event. Try to speak at eye level and use words and explanations they can understand. Try chatting and playing games about their interests based on their age. Give them time and attention. Help them maintain their daily routine. Share real information about what happened and tell the current situation. Let them be sad. Don’t expect them to be strong. Listen to their thoughts and fears without judgment. Ask about the dangers they face, support them and discuss how best to avoid harm. Provide opportunities to help others and encourage them.”
“Communication with preschoolers”
Emphasizing the importance of letting them ask questions when communicating with preschoolers, Dr. Ozcan continued:
“When communicating with preschoolers, provide answers appropriate to the child’s age with clear, concise, and short sentences. Play games, give him lots of hugs to make him feel safe. If he puts on plays that stage the earthquake, let him direct the play.
“Communication with children in primary school”
Dr. Özcan made the following suggestions regarding issues to consider when communicating with primary school children:
“Make sure you keep a routine. It is very important to go to school, exercise and restore sleep patterns. Encourage him to communicate and entertain with his teacher and friends. Try to understand your child’s thoughts and feelings. To do this, first share your own feelings and thoughts with your child.”
“Communication with adolescent children”
Emphasizing that communication with children is of great importance in adolescence, as in any age period, Dr. Ozcan shared the following information:
“The desire to be alone must be understood. Try chatting with them without giving advice. Get back to their routine as soon as possible. Support him to share it with his friends. Encourage her to participate in projects, charities, and social events she enjoys. Create the opportunity to help you with your daily work. Having a voice in the decision is important, but not heavy responsibilities such as the role of parents. For example, we can leave it to him to decide what he wants to eat, where he wants to go today.”