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Bushfires and children

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(From a South Australian Parenting And child Health Website www.cyh.com)

Bushfires can be a cause of major trauma to children as well as adults.  Research on children who have been directly affected by bushfires shows that some children experience emotional distress for a long time after the bushfire. This can be related to the experience of having to leave their homes, fears about their parents safety and fears about the future as well as actual experience of the fire.

Some children who are distressed don't share this with their parents as they don't want to worry them, so it is important for parents and carers to be aware of the other ways that children show their feelings.

If children who show signs of stress don't get support and understanding and appropriate reassurance at an early stage, the emotional effects of the bushfire can continue over many months. It is important to remember also that sometimes children can seem to be coping well at first but stress reactions can come later.

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