DAYTON - Talking to kids after a traumatic experience can be tough.
âSometimes kids might open up if you tell them a story about something and then get them to talk about the storyâ said Denise Lindsey, Dayton.
âBe understanding to the needs of the child being young and everything, other than that I really wouldnât know what to sayâ said Larry Bohman, Dayton.
One person who would know what to say is child psychologist, Dr. Marianne Kabour. She can do wonders for the three kids who witnessed a family acquaintance shot to death Monday night in a Miami Township apartment, or the ten year old in Harrison Township, who witnessed his mother and another person shot dead last week.
âItâs usually a stepped approach, about talking about feelings, expressing them and coping with them and then talking about what happenedâ said Dr. Marianne Kabour, Ph.D., Child Psychologist.
Doctor Kabour says Children react to stressful situations differently, and itâs important to talk to them early on to help them cope, sometimes that involves getting down on their level, even using toys. Most importantly, experts say listen to what children are saying and not saying.
The Miami Valley has several agencies that help kids deal with traumatic situations such as Care House in Dayton, which use different methods like play therapy for younger kids. Teens can also be affected; many often suffer from depression when affected.
For Doctor Kabour, she knows events like violent crime, especially at a young age, can have lasting effects on kids if left untreated.
âHow theyâd function as an adult a lot of times is impacted by what happened when they were children, so for me itâs important that I work with the children early onâ said Dr. Kabour.
Other tips for parents and guardians to help kids open up following traumatic experiences include, giving children a feeling of safety. Look for changes in behavior, both at home and at school, and donât be afraid to seek professional help when necessary.
