Proper Communication Tips for Parents After an Earthquake

The Sabri Ülker Vakfı emphasizes that children can exhibit trauma symptoms and experience anxiety following earthquakes, and outlines recommendations for proper communication in the post-earthquake period to help children get through this process with minimal harm. Sabri Ülker Vakfı, drawing on information compiled from reference sources, is working to support the healing of earthquake wounds by sharing healthy communication methods with children during this period. As earthquake wounds are being healed, children in the earthquake zone and throughout Turkey via media continue to be negatively affected by developments. Emphasizing that children can exhibit trauma symptoms and experience anxiety following earthquakes, Sabri Ülker Vakfı outlines recommendations for proper post-earthquake communication to help children get through this process with minimal harm.

Do not put off talking to your child about the earthquake

No child benefits from avoiding a conversation about an event or pushing it out of their thoughts. Discussing the earthquake and its destructive effects is a difficult process for adults as well. If children sense that their parents are very sad or angry about an event, they may not bring up the subject. In this case, do not force your child to talk, but show your willingness to have the conversation. Adults may need to provide explanations about the earthquake to children at an appropriate time, comfort them and calm them down.

Provide answers while considering the age factor

For children following traumatic events, being in the care of a parent who is confident and has not lost control is of great importance in getting through this process. If you are feeling bad, briefly explain your feelings to your child and emphasize that what you feel in the face of such events is normal. In trauma or crisis situations, always provide information to your child. Do not hesitate to discuss difficult topics with your child and do not shy away from bringing up the subject before they ask. The most important aspect during this information-sharing process is how to explain the situation to the child. The determining criterion here is to act according to your child's development and age when providing information. For example, when explaining to a child in preschool or elementary school, you should avoid abstract concepts. You could say: "I know you're confused about the earthquake, worried, and very scared. The earthquake really is frightening, but we are with you and together we are safe. Mothers and fathers are adults and know what to do in a problem." In older children attending middle school and high school, post-trauma symptoms may include sleep problems, avoidance of places or people that remind them of the earthquake, being overly sensitive or angry, and no longer enjoying things they liked. These types of reactions are described as "normal responses to an abnormal event." A few weeks after the earthquake, these reactions are expected to diminish over time, but if approximately a month has passed and there is no reduction in these reactions, or if the frequency and severity of these behaviors is increasing, it is recommended to seek support from specialists without delay.

Be a good observer

In the acute period following a traumatic event, children exhibit certain symptoms. Noticing these symptoms is important for early intervention. During this period, children may frequently display the following behaviors: repetition (making the same drawings, etc.), avoidance (daydreaming, preferring solitude, withdrawing), physiological reactivity (eating, drinking and sleep problems, excessive activity, etc.). The appearance of such symptoms in the acute period is normal. Be sensitive to these behaviors in children, do not criticize them, do not attempt to correct them immediately. Children experiencing this process must be monitored. If these behavior patterns continue for more than 3 days, professional support must be sought. If you observe that this is beginning to affect their daily life, do not hesitate to seek support from a specialist.

Play is healing

Following a disaster, spending relaxing, enjoyable time with children or playing games with them may not seem like a priority. However, engaging in activities with children to help them recover following the earthquake is quite important and necessary. Play is one of the methods through which children can best express themselves. Creating opportunities for children who have experienced trauma to play with their friends will be beneficial.

The right words for healthy communication

For healthy communication, it is very important that adults approach children with the right words and gestures. One of the best and most meaningful things you can do for your children is to listen to them. Listen to your child, allow them to ask questions and respect their views. Having reciprocal conversations with children, chatting with them, drawing pictures together or playing games is the healthiest and most natural way for children to get through this difficult period they are experiencing. Even if you have experienced the same event, it is not possible for you to fully understand what children felt at that moment. While individuals may have common reactions to events, these reactions are actually as different as fingerprints. Instead, you can ask children questions to encourage them to share their earthquake experiences with you. For example, you can ask questions like "Can you tell me what this process was like for you? What have you been thinking and how have you been feeling since the earthquake?"