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Crisis Response Resources for Parents

Crisis situations are difficult for both children and adults.  It is normal to experience fear, anxiety, insecurity, and anger during crisis situations that threaten one’s life or well-being.

Listed below are behaviors that you may see in your children:

  • Becomes more active, restless, “jumpy” or have difficulty paying attention

  • Becomes easily upset, cry and whine more frequently

  • Becomes angry, act out, or get into trouble

  • Appears quiet and withdrawn or not want to talk

  • Has difficulty with separation or be afraid to be left alone

  • Behaves as they did when younger (e.g., thumb sucking, clingy, etc.)

  • Changes in the eating and sleeping patterns

  • Expresses physical complaints (e.g., headaches, stomachaches, etc.)

Some children show feelings in a direct and immediate fashion while others will wait until a later time.  A child’s emotional response to a crisis may not last long, but some problems may be present or recur for many months afterward.  Children need continued guidance and understanding through the experience.

The following activities may be helpful for your child:

  • Take time to comfort and reassure your child.  Provide simple accurate information to questions.  Allow the child to tell their stories about what happened.  Reassure your child that adults are taking care of them. 

  • Talk with your child about their feelings.  Let them know that you, too, feel sadness, confusion, etc.  Share ways you calm yourself and offer your child ways he/she can use to become calm.

  • Allow your child time to mourn or grieve over the situation.

  • Recognize that your child may seek out physical or emotional comfort from their caregiver.

  • Spend extra time with your child at bedtime.  Talk and offer assurance.

  • Limit the amount of exposure to violent television, movies, videos, and computer games.

  • If you find your child is having problems at school, talk to his/her teacher so you can work together to help your child.

  • Avoid infecting your child’s life with your anxiety.  If you are overwhelmed by anxiety caused by the crisis, take steps to deal with your feelings before affecting your child.

Local and National Resources for Parents

Daymark Mobile Crisis (Cabarrus & Rowan)

1-866-275-9552

HOPE4NC HELPLINE

1-855-587-3463 

Suicide Prevention Hotline

1-800-273-8255

https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

Say Something

1-844-5-SayNow

https://www.sandyhookpromise.org/say-something-tips/