Helpful literature: CMH, NUST guidelines for parents, teachers

PESHAWAR:

A brochure (in Urdu) was handed out to parents on the day APS reopened, ‘Guidelines for parents and teachers after the tragedy’.

The five-page booklet explains the significant psychological impact on both adults and children after a tragedy of such catastrophic scale and how teachers and parents can help draw children out of said impact.

The literature lists emotions ranging from shock, disbelief, fear to shame, grief, restlessness and rage; which children might feel. “Where does grief end and rage begin?” it asks in a bid to illustrate the complexity of emotions and their impact on functionality and mood.

It goes on to provide ‘Dos and don’ts for caretakers and teachers’, it provides helpful tips such as:



*Maintain a routine so the child is aware of his daily schedule and knows adults are in control  of the situation.

*Keenly observe the child’s habits; it is possible children will go over the events of the trauma  in play or art.

*Protect the child; help keep the child away from things which make his or her symptoms  worse.

The brochure goes over rage as a natural consequence in detail. It provides guidelines to recognise anger and explains in some detail its manifestation.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 9^th, 2015.