Psychological needs of kids during tragedy

In a booklet that could have been written in direct response to the current world situation, a UW–Madison professor advises parents and caregivers about the psychological needs of their children during times of tragedy.

The nature of the advice depends on the age and developmental stage of the child, according to Lewis Leavitt, a professor of pediatrics and medical director of the Waisman Center at the UW–Madison. In the publication, “When Terrible Things Happen: A Parent’s Guide to Talking with Their Children,” Leavitt divides child development into four stages: infant and toddler, preschool, school-age and adolescent/teenager.

According to Leavitt, young preschool children understand the world differently than adults: They believe that repeated images on television are happening “for real” each time, and they do not fully understand the permanence of death. Television exposure to violent events, he says, should be limited. When difficult times occur, whether it is the war in Iraq or a national disaster, the best response parents and caregivers can offer to children is to maintain the routine and provide loving care while answering questions truthfully with simple and reassuring language, according to Leavitt.

Teenagers may have strong opinions about current events, but Leavitt notes that to the extent you listen to your teenager’s opinion, he or she will listen to yours.

Leavitt’s booklet was published with support of the International Pediatric Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Johnson & Johnson Pediatric Institute. For more information, contact Leavitt at (608) 263-5894 or leavitt@waisman.wisc.edu.