3 Tevet, 5773 I lack adequate words to describe my reaction, or
the wider world's, to the mass murder of the children in
Connecticut, USA. Those words are in the hearts of everyone who
died in, or survived, the massacre. From a mental health
perspective, everyone dealing with children who survived the
scene and dealing with children who know of it, needs to be
aware of several facts that can promote emotional and spiritual
recovery from the horror: - Little ones will likely regress,
losing their most recently acquired skills (this includes toilet
training, knowing the alphabet, the ability to dress oneself,
games, songs, names of important people places and things). DO
NOT CRITICIZE the child or fuss over the issue. The regression
is the child's expression of grief, a way of saying "I lack
coping skills for this bigger-than-life event in my young mind.
Embrace me with unconditional love and acceptance. I need to be
soothed before I can go on with my life." - Nightmares will
become the new normal at bedtime an