SUFFER THE LITTLE ONES TO COME UNTO ME
They do not need to see everything yet.
They do not need to hear everything yet.
They need to be protected for now.
There will time for that later.

From my EQ Network comes the following compilation of resources. Please pass this information on to those with children, grandchildren, and caretakers.

Grandparents can play a special role here. As Dr. Furhbach puts it, "Elders are the coping specialists." They've been through it before. Or something like it. They have weathered many storms.

WHY I LOVE PBS:
Our littlest viewers can be frightened by the pictures they see on the news. PBS KIDS and children's programming on your PBS station will remain a SAFE HAVEN for all kids.


Resources on Coping with Natural Disasters from the National Association of School Psychologists.

How To Talk To Kids About the Hurricane from the NYU Center for the Child

From KidsPeace

From About.com from Pediatricians

In support of parents trying to find the best way to talk to kids about Katrina, PBS has posted some resources on PBS Parents: "Talking About Tough Topics With Kids"

Special episodes of Sesame Street are scheduled for the week of Sept. 12. They depict the events that lead up to, and take place after, a devastating hurricane that destroys Big Bird's nest. You will find those episodes 10-11am Sept. 12-16 on CET.

See The Emotional Response to Hurricane Katrina from the NJ Health and Human Services

See DoSomething's "We've Got Your Back (pack)", a great service project idea.

Resource Listing from MindOh! Foundation MindOH! wants to help young people explore the good that can come from a bad situation, and to encourage them to be courageous in the face of a disaster. They have created a number of resources that include a classroom lesson plan, a family activity and broadcast messages intended to encourage both the victims of the hurricane and the giving to relief organizations. These can be read over a school's in-house public announcement system or television system.

NACAC Monitoring the Effects of Hurricane Katrina on Educational Opportunities: Visit www.nacac.com for more info. Also check their message board for updates on Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts.

To offer support visit The American Red Cross and/or FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

For a free downloadable version of "After the Storm -- A guide to the help children cope with the psychological effects of a hurricane" click here

TIPS FROM ASCA:

When dealing with the devastation from Hurricane Katrina, here are a few tips that may help your students and/or community members.

Try and keep routines as normal as possible. Children gain security from the predictability of routine.

Limit exposure to television and the news

Be honest with kids and share with them as much information as they are
developmentally able to handle.

Listen to students' fears and concerns.

Parents and adults need to first deal with and assess their own responses to crisis and stress.

Rebuild and reaffirm attachments and relationships.

Explore ways to eliminate and reduce stressors

Stay physically healthy

Help others

More resources:

Librarians Index to the Internet

National Service Learning Clearinghouse: Hurricane Katrina Service-Learning Resources and Tools

FOR COACHING, CALL SUSAN AT 210-496-0678 OR mailto:sdunn@susandunn.cc