Adding Pretend Play Helps Children Cope with Trauma

With all the scary things happening in the world, our children often act out daily life in pretend play. After something scary happens, you may notice him or her reenacting it with their toys. This is normal and it helps him cope with fears and emotions.

After a scary event, your child’s brain is full of complex thoughts. They want to trust you to keep them safe, but they’re worried that something bad will happen again. To a young person, past and future are not always clear. If he or she sees the disaster on TV, they may not understand that the pictures are reruns and it may scare him all over again.

Your child may act out the trauma over and over again when he plays. He or she may also tell made up stories about what happened or draw pictures about their view of the event. Notice how he feels during these times. If he or she seems to be getting upset, you may need to redirect their play. Some children do not act out the trauma in their play at all. This is all okay, just remember that your family’s normal play routines are important right now. They help your child forget about being scared or sad. Keep them active with favorite toys, games and songs. Stick to your usual routines for bedtime, naps and meals.

Pretend play can be a good time to add to your child’s language ability. Label the emotions they feel (angry, scared, or worried) and let him know you feel this way too. Assure that you are there and they will be safe.

For more information about the Schulenburg/Weimar Area Parents as Teachers program, visit the website www.sw-pat.org or call (979) 743-6060.