Helping Children Cope With the Tragedy in Boston

In a very timely post, new on the Center for Injury Research and Prevention’s Research in Action blog is an article about helping children cope with traumatic events in the news. Flaura K. Winston, MD, PhD, the Center’s scientific director and founder, outlines a few resources families can use to help their children better understand and cope with disasters like the recent bombings in Boston.

For example, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) offers tips for talking to children about the bombings, information for families who might have been injured, and strategies for dealing with media coverage.

“As NCTSN suggests, parents shouldn’t ignore the issue or act like it hasn’t happened. Instead, they should talk to their child about what he or she already knows and answer any questions they have,” Dr. Winston writes.

Additionally, the Penn Center for Youth and Family Trauma Response and Study provides information and interventions that can help families “cope with many of the related issues that frequently occur in the aftermath of traumatic events.”

For more information on other resources, see Research in Action.