TACLOBAN CITY-Children in difficult circumstances need all the attention and understanding.
And this should be more given to children who experienced the wrath of supertyphoon Yolanda.
This was emphasized by Alfred Stual of the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) who added that the children should not only get the support from their respective families but even from the government itself.
Stual said that children should be listened to when they try to open up on what they feel and thought about the supertyphoon.
According to the Unicef official, the parents play a big yet sensitive role for their children to overcome their fears related to their experiences of Yolanda.
“Children’s distress and fears should be acknowledged and even if parents are busy providing for their children’s need, they should take time to comfort them and give them affection,” Stual said.
“Children should be reassured that they are safe now; strategies to comfort and calm the children can be used such as hugging them, telling stories, praying with them, and playing simple games,” he added.
He said that if a child is having some difficulties, this manifest in several ways like recurring nightmares, trouble in sleeping, may become withdrawn, fearful or aggressive.
“(He) may also complain that he have pains like stomach aches, headaches, and nausea and fatigue even though it seems like nothing is causing it,” Stual said.
According to Stual, these are all common and temporary reactions to a terrible event they have experienced.
“Parents’ care, patience, understanding and support will make these children recover,” he stressed.
Children should be supported to re-establish daily activities such as going to school, organizing a play, creative and recreation activities, or participating in sports which can help them regain a sense of normalcy, the Unicef official said.
By: LIZBETH ANN ABELLA
