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Tjs

Childrens

Ministry

2006

 

 

 

  1. CHILD LURES

  2. SMOKEY BEAR

  3. MR MCGRUFF

  4. POLICE NOTEBOOK

  5. SAFE KIDS

  6. TIME FOR KIDS

  7. KITCHEN SAFETY

  8. KID SAFETY

  9. THE BULLY BOOK ( FREE)

  10. CHILDREN SAFETY ZONE

 

FATHER GOD I PRAY THAT ALL CHILDREN WHO VISIT THIS SITE WILL GO TALK TO MOM AND DAD AND HAVE THEM READ THIS PAGE WITH THEM, I PRAY THAT THE CHILDREN BE SAFE AND I PRAY THAT ALL THE PARENTS WILL TAKE THEIR CHILDRENS SAFETY VERY SERIOUSLY.

IN JESUS NAME I PRAY

AMEN

 

 

A NOTE TO THE ADULTS OF THE CHILDREN WHO VISIT THIS SITE.

 

All Adults Should:

1. Model calm and control. Children take their emotional cues from the significant adults in their lives. Avoid appearing anxious or frightened.

2. Reassure children that they are safe and (if true) so are the other important adults in their lives. Point out factors that help insure their immediate safety and that of their community, such as staying indoors for recess and lunch and the presence of police and security officers.

3. Remind them that trustworthy people are in charge. Explain that the police, emergency workers, federal law enforcement, and school officials are working to keep people safe and find the perpetrator.

4. Let children know that it is okay to feel upset. Explain that all feelings are okay when a tragedy like this occurs. Let children talk about their feelings and help put them into perspective. Even anger is okay, but children may need help and patience from adults to assist them in expressing these feelings appropriately.

5. Observe children's emotional state. Depending on their age, children may not express their concerns verbally. Children will express their emotions differently. There is no right or wrong way to feel or express grief or fear. Signs of heightened anxiety include:

  • Refusing to go to school and excessive "clinging"
  • Persistent fears related to the shootings
  • Worry that loved ones might get hurt
  • Sleep disturbances such as nightmares, screaming during sleep, or bedwetting
  • Irritability and loss of concentration
  • Increase agitation
  • Being easily startled and jumpy
  • New or unusual behavior problems
  • Physical complaints for which a physical cause cannot be found
  • Withdrawal from family and friends
  • Sadness, listlessness, or decreased activity
  • Preoccupation with the death or violence

6. Look for children at greater risk. Children who have had a past traumatic experience or personal loss, suffer from depression or other mental illness, or with special needs may be at greater risk for severe reactions than others. Be particularly observant for those who may be at risk of suicide. Seek the help of mental health professional if you are at all concerned.

7. Tell children the truth. Don't try to pretend the event or events have not occurred or that it is not serious. Children are smart. They will be more worried if they think you are too afraid to tell them what is happening.

8. Stick to the facts. Don't embellish or speculate about what has happened and what might happen. Don't dwell on the scale or scope of the tragedy, particularly with young children.

9. Keep your explanations developmentally appropriate. Early elementary school children need brief, simple information that should be balanced with reassurances that the daily structures of their lives will not change. Upper elementary and early middle school children will be more vocal in asking questions about whether they truly are safe and what is being done at their school. They may need assistance separating reality from fantasy. Upper middle school and high school students will have strong and varying opinions about the causes of violence and threats to safety in schools and society. They will share concrete suggestions about how to make school safer and how to prevent tragedies in society. They will be more committed to doing something to help the victims and affected community. For all children, encourage them to verbalize their thoughts and feelings. Be a good listener!

10. Monitor your own stress level. Don't ignore your own feelings of anxiety, grief, and anger. Talking to friends, family members, religious leaders, and mental health counselors can help. It is okay to let your children know that you are sad, but that you believe things will get better. You will be better able to support your children if you can express your own emotions in a productive manner. Get appropriate sleep, nutrition, and exercise.

 

 

 

 

 
HI Kids,

I wanted to say hi to you tonight and let you know just how

important you are to me, it is also important to me that I try and

help you learn some of the things God wants you to know.

 

I would like to talk to you about your family this time. Your family

is very important and Jesus wants you to know that it is important

that you try to listen to your parents.

 

It is very hard being a mom or a dad and even if you really dont

want to listen to them sometimes, it is very important that you do.

 

They work very hard to take care of you and I want you to know

that sometimes it is scarey for mom and dad too. If you are sick or

if you are having problems, your mom and dad start wondering

how they can help you.

 

Sometimes we dont understand what you need from us and its

your job to tell us. If something makes you sad or if someone

hurts you it is important that you tell your family.

 

Sometimes people do bad things to kids and we will only know if

you tell us what is happening to you. I want to ask you to be very

honest with your mom and dad cause they love you and they dont

want anything to happen to you.

 

If you are old enough to go to school or if you have babysitters to

watch you, its important that you tell mom and dad that someone

is being mean to you.

 

The devil is very bad and sometimes the people who like him do

bad things to kids and we dont want you to get hurt. The devil

used to be a angel but he got mad at God so he turned bad. So

God made him leave heaven.

 

The devil is locked away in a bad place and he cant get out right

now but just like you love Jesus, there are bad people out there

who think they love the devil, I know this is alittle bit scarey but it

is true and I also want you to know that Jesus can help protect

you too, All you gotta do is ask him to help you and then tell mom

and dad what is going on that scares you.

 

I have a few links on this page of your website that you might ask

your parents to read with you so you can understand how to keep

yourself safe.

 

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What Parents Can Do

1. Focus on your children during this time. Tell them you love them and everything will be okay. Try to help them understand what has happened, keeping in mind their developmental level.

2. Make time to talk with your children. Remember if you do not talk to your children about this incident someone else will. Take some time and determine what you wish to say.

3. Stay close to your children. Your physical presence will reassure them and give you the opportunity to monitor their reaction. Many children will want actual physical contact. Give plenty of hugs. Let them sit close to you, and make sure to take extra time at bedtime to cuddle and to reassure them that they are loved and safe.

4. Limit your child's television viewing of these events. If they must watch, watch with them for a brief time; then turn the set off. Don't sit mesmerized re-watching the same events over and over again.

5. Maintain a "normal" routine. To the extent possible stick to your family's normal routine for dinner, homework, chores, bedtime, etc., but don't be inflexible. Children may have a hard time concentrating on schoolwork or falling asleep at night.

6. Spend extra time reading or playing quiet games with your children before bed. These activities are calming, foster a sense of closeness and security, and reinforce a sense of normalcy. Spend more time tucking them in. Let them sleep with a light on if they ask for it.

7. Safeguard your children's physical health. Stress can take a physical toll on children as well as adults. Make sure your children get appropriate sleep, exercise, and nutrition.

8. Consider praying or thinking hopeful thoughts for the victims and their families. It may be a good time to take your children to your place of worship, write a poem, or draw a picture to help your child express their feelings and feel that they are somehow supporting the victims and their families.

9. Find out what resources your school has in place to help children cope. Most schools will stay open and are in fact a good place for children to maintain a sense of connectedness to people they know and trust. Some children will find being in lockdown mode frightening or unsettling. Reassure them that it is very unlikely that something bad will happen at their school but that adults are being extra cautious and that the emergency procedures help keep everyone safe. Schools should also have a plan for making counseling available to children and adults who need it. Don't force your child to go to school if they are frightened.

 

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What Schools Can Do

1. Assure children that they are safe and that schools are well prepared to take care of all children at all times. Reiterate that the lockdown procedures help keep students and staff safe.

2. Maintain structure and stability within the schools. It may be best, however, not to have tests or major projects during this time if students seem especially unsettled. Allow parents to help determine if their children need special arrangements.

3. Have your crisis response plan in place. Review procedures with your crisis response team. Confirm procedures with community agencies and law enforcement. Inform teachers and parents of protocols, resources, etc.

4. Provide teachers and parents with information about what to say and do for children in school and at home. Reassure parents that their children are safe in school and should stay there if possible.

5. Have teachers provide information directly to their students, not during the public address announcements.

6. Have school psychologists and counselors available to talk to students and staff who may need or want extra support.

7. Be aware of students who may have recently experienced a personal tragedy or a have personal connection to victims or their families. Even a child who frequently goes or recently went to one of the sites may have a strong reaction. Provide these students extra support and leniency if necessary.

8. Know what community resources are available for children who may need extra counseling. School psychologists can be very helpful in directing families to the right community resources.

9. Allow time for age appropriate classroom discussion and activities, if students need to talk. Do not expect teachers to provide all of the answers. They should ask questions and guide the discussion, but not dominate it. Other activities can include art and writing projects, play acting, and physical games.

10. Refer children who exhibit extreme anxiety, fear or anger to mental health counselors in the school. Inform their parents. Mental health professionals in the schools can help recommend or facilitate referrals to community resources as requested or needed.

11. Provide an outlet for students' desire to help. Consider making get well cards or sending letters to the families and survivors, or writing thank you letters to emergency rescue workers, and police.

12. Monitor or restrict viewing scenes of the events as well as the aftermath.

This material is adapted from information posted on the NASP website September 2001.

For more information on helping children and youth cope with this crisis, contact NASP at (301) 657-0270 or visit NASP's website at www.nasponline.org. Specific crisis materials are located at http://www.nasponline.org/NEAT/resources.htm

This material may be adapted, reproduced, reprinted, or linked to on websites without specific permission as long as the integrity of the content is maintained and NASP is given proper credit.

 

 

 

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Copyright ©2006

Tj's Childrens Ministry