Thousands of people have recently been affected by the recent bushfires in Victoria. Many children have suffered directly and indirectly; through hearing about the fires, knowing someone who has died or been badly injured, living through the terrifying experiences or losing their homes and pets.

Children are not always able to express their complex feelings in the same direct way that adults do . Children will vary in their reactions depending on their age. Reactions to the trauma may result in changes to children’s normal behavior such as: Nightmares, not wanting to sleep alone, anger, tantrums, withdrawing, wanting to stay close to a parent, unable to concentrate, fussy eating, regressive behavior, depression.

Article from Centacare Family Education Services Newsletter Term 1 2009, written by Pru Robertson.
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