Introduction Most children respond sensibly and appropriately to disaster, especially if they experience the protection, support, and stability of their parents and other trusted adults. However, like adults, they may respond to disaster with a wide range of symptoms. Their responses are generally similar to those of adults, although they may appear in more direct, less disguised form. Children of all ages are strongly affected by the responses of their parents or other caretakers to disaster. Children are especially vulnerable to feeling abandoned when they are separated from or lose their parents. "Protecting" children by sending them away from the scene of the disaster, thus separating them from their loved ones, adds the trauma of separation to the trauma of disaster. Children's typical reactions The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (2002) publication entitled "Psychological Support: Community-based Psychological Support Training Manual" describes various reactions that are typical of children in such situations. - Fear and anxiety - Children are often afraid that the event will happen again. A child's most dominating fear is that he or she will be left alone. Therefore, it is common for children to become more "clinging" and to protest about the absence of a loved one.
- "Childish" or regressive behaviour - Children's fear and anxiety may cause them to act younger than their age. They may begin behaviour such as bedwetting, thumb-sucking, and being very clingy or afraid of strangers.
- Difficulty sleeping - Frequently children show their anxiety and fear through having nightmares or being afraid of sleeping alone. They may develop fears of the dark or have difficulty falling or staying asleep at night.
- Physical reactions - Some children have stomach-aches, headaches, nausea, eating problems or other physical symptoms of distress. These can be in response to fear, guilt, anger or feeling vulnerable to future tragedies.
- "Trigger" responses - Sometimes a child will associate a particular smell, sound, object, or activity with the trauma. Whenever he or she is exposed to that reminder, anxiety, avoidance of the trigger, and sometimes physical reactions will follow.
- Difficulty concentrating and thinking - Children of all ages can experience difficulties with concentration. Many find that they are easily distracted and feel confused and disoriented
|  Pieter van der Houwen |