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Page 28 April 2018 The Catoctin Banner Newspaper www.TheCatoctinBanner.com Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com
C atoctin
K IDs For kids and parents alike involvement in positive student
leadership activities.
Watch for Signs of Excessive
Fear or Anxiety
by Anita DiGregory According to the scientific
community, signs of stress in
children can include trouble sleeping,
“Helping Our Children Cope in Times of Trouble” difficulty concentrating on school
work, or changes in behavior or
appetite. If these symptoms last for
To say that I am not a a range of symptoms, including “check-in” on how your kids are more than a week or two, consult
media news person would be trauma symptoms, depression, doing with regard to this for days, your pediatrician.
an understatement. My family anxiety, or, if deaths are involved, even weeks, after. Assure them that
and I actually avoid it like the bereavement.” No matter their you are there for them, whenever Create a “Culture of Kindness”
plague. Being a communications age, it may be hard for children they want to talk. According to the AAP (Kindness:
media graduate, I guess that may to understand these events or to How a Simple Act Can Make a Big
seem to be a somewhat ironic verbalize their feelings. It is quite Limit Exposure to Media Difference, 2018), “Teaching and
fact. However, with its incessant normal for them to feel a wide range According to an article published modeling kindness gives children a
negative spin and masked agenda, of emotions, including fear and by the AAP in 2016 (Media Use life skill they will take with them
mainstream reporting has become sadness. Here are some ways to help in School-Aged Children and forever. In a world where media
the opposite of all I studied. These your children cope with this trauma. Adolescents), “today’s children are bombard us and our children with
days, I tend to agree with Luke spending an average of seven hours talk of dislike, impatience, and
Bryan, “I believe if you just go by Get Involved a day on entertainment media, intolerance, teaching kindness to
the nightly news, your faith in all Speak with leaders at your including televisions, computers, children is an important part of their
mankind would be the first thing children’s schools. Find out phones, and other electronic healthy development—and their role
you lose.” With today’s technology the school’s safety plans. Offer devices.” Media images can be in our communities. And the first
and the internet, the media is nearly support and volunteer on different especially disturbing and threatening lessons on this skill start at home.”
impossible to escape. When the news committees to help with safety. to children. They recommend modeling
is tragic and devastating, as we sadly They add, “Children today kindheartedness by cultivating a
witnessed again with the most recent Talk With Your Children are growing up in an era of “culture of kindness” in the home,
school shooting, acts of violence in Regardless of their age and highly personalized media use where everyone is treated with
school and heartbreaking loss of life stage of development, you know experiences, so parents must develop fairness and respect. Get involved
way too young, it is incredibly hard your children best. Whether they personalized media use plans for with groups and activities that
for us, as adults, to get our bearings. have access to the internet or not, their children that attend to each promote kind acts, talk with your
How do we help our children cope they have most likely heard from child’s age, health, temperament, children about the importance of
with the news of tragedy and loss? others about these recent events. Be and developmental stage. Research being kind to others, and offer
According to the American proactive and ask them what they evidence shows that children and concrete suggestions for ways to
Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) may have heard. Quietly listen to teenagers need adequate sleep, demonstrate kindness to others,
via its website healthychildren. what they have to say. When they physical activity, and time away from whether it be sitting with them at
org (Helping Your Child Cope, finish, address any misconceptions media.” These basic needs are even lunch or simply smiling and saying,
2015), “a child’s reaction to a new they may have. For example, younger more essential in times of stress. “Hello.”
situation varies greatly, depending children may hear about isolated They further state, “Now more
on his or her developmental level, events and think they are happening Enable Your Children than ever, learning to be kind to
temperament, experience, skills, at their school. Don’t avoid their When children are faced with others is an important lesson and
and the support that is provided by questions. Address their concerns stress, they may feel they have no an ongoing process that should take
parents or caregivers. When children honestly, but refrain from graphic control, which may result in even place throughout your child’s life.
are exposed to circumstances that details. Offer reassurance that more feelings of anxiety. By helping Teaching children to be kind creates
are beyond the usual scope of you have contacted their school, your children to be proactive, you a supportive, positive environment,
human experience…, they may have and that the school is taking every will be giving them back that sense making children—and those around
difficulty understanding and coping safety precaution. Keep lines of of control. Help them start or attend them—feel better about themselves
with the events and may develop communication open. Continue to a prayer group. Encourage their and others.”
