🌱 Following events where children feel scared or unsafe—not just disasters like earthquakes and floods, but also witnessing accidents, suffering severe injuries, or being yelled at—various changes in their minds and bodies may be observed.
🌿 With the support of family and those around them, many children gradually return to their normal state over time. On the other hand, professional support may be necessary if anxiety, sleep problems, or other issues persist for a long time, or if they begin to interfere with school or daily life.
Not every event that a child feels was "scary" qualifies as a "psychological trauma" in the medical sense or as PTSD. However, regardless of whether they meet the diagnostic criteria, it is important to notice changes in a child after they have experienced intense stress and to provide them with a secure environment.

🌼 Reactions after a frightening experience are not necessarily "abnormal"

😢 After a frightening event, changes such as anxiety, increased clinginess, night terrors, difficulty sleeping, and irritability may be observed.
🌱 These are often natural reactions experienced after high stress, and just because these symptoms are present, it is not necessary to immediately think of it as an illness.
🤝 What is important is not to deny the child's feelings, to create a secure environment, and to restore their normal routine to the extent possible. At the same time, monitor them to see if their symptoms are lingering or worsening.
Instead of unilaterally saying things like "It's okay, don't worry about it" or "It's already over, so forget about it," if the child is scared, let's first accept their feelings by saying, "That was scary, wasn't it?" or "You're worried, aren't you?"

👶 Infants and Toddlers (approx. 0-2 years old)

Infants and toddlers cannot explain their anxiety and fear in words. Therefore, it can manifest as changes in sleep, eating habits, crying patterns, or clinging behavior toward parents.

Common reactions

• Crying more than usual
• Even when I hold them, they have a hard time calming down.
• Trouble falling asleep, waking up often in the middle of the night
• Appetite changes
• Doesn't want to leave their parent's side
• Regression is observed, such as temporarily losing the ability to do things that could be done before

🫂 Things you can do at home
Rather than explaining things in detail through words, it is important to help them regain a sense that "this place is safe" through cuddling, physical touch, and a calm voice.
🛁 Keep meals, baths, naps, and bedtime routines as close to your usual schedule as possible.
🌿 Parents do not necessarily need to forcefully hide their anxiety, but creating as calm an environment as possible leads to a child's sense of security.

🧸 Toddlers & Preschoolers (approx. 3–6 years old)

🎨 At this age, it is still difficult to fully understand scary events or organize one's feelings into words, so they tend to manifest as changes in behavior.

Common reactions

• Reverting to baby talk
• An increase in bedwetting or toilet accidents
• Tantrums increase
• I have a nightmare
• Doesn't want to leave their parent's side
• Troubles with friends are increasing.
• Repeating scary events through "pretend play"

💬 Things you can do at home
Let's put the child's feelings into words and accept them by saying, "That was scary, wasn't it?" or "That was a surprise, wasn't it?"
Children sometimes express their feelings while drawing pictures, reading picture books, or playing pretend. There is no need to forcefully make them stop.
🏠 Rather than promising "Nothing bad will ever happen again," things like "Right now our home is safe," "Mommy and Daddy are right here with you,"Clearly communicate what makes you feel safe right nowIt is important to.
📖 When asked about what happened, explain the facts using simple words appropriate for the age, taking care not to frighten them more than necessary.

🎒 Elementary school students (around 7–12 years old)

🌱 Once children reach elementary school age, they become able to understand events quite well, but on the other hand, they may continue to worry, thinking things like, "What if it happens again?" or "Was it my fault?"

Common reactions

• Concentration decreases
• Grades suddenly drop
• Dependency on parents and teachers increases.
• worrying repeatedly about events
• I feel depressed
• become irritable, become defiant
• Troubles with friends are increasing.
• start losing the desire to go to school
• strongly avoiding specific people or places

🏫 For example, if someone perceives being yelled at harshly at school as a terrifying experience, they might show a strong reluctance to go to school or avoid a specific teacher or classroom.
👂 Things you can do at home
Let's listen slowly to what happened in the child's own words.
Instead of initially dismissing their feelings with statements like "There's nothing to be so afraid of" or "You're overthinking it," first acknowledge and accept their feelings by saying, "That must have been scary" or "That made you feel upset," and then think together about how they can feel safe and comfortable.
Returning little by little to your usual daily rhythm, such as school, meals, and sleep, helps with recovery. However, there is no need to force yourself to go back to normal all at once.
🌿 If necessary, consider temporarily reducing burdens such as homework, tests, or extracurricular lessons.

Middle and high school students (around 13 to 18 years old)

🌙 During adolescence, teenagers often stop talking about their feelings to their parents. Even if they outwardly answer "I'm fine" or "It's nothing," they may be harboring intense anxiety and fear inside.

Common reactions

• Loss of appetite or overeating
• Changes in sleep
• Physical ailments such as headaches and stomachaches
• Depressed mood
• lose confidence
• Troubles with friends and family
• An increasing number of students are staying home from school.
• reckless actions increase
• Drinking and Smoking
• self-harm

👂 Things you can do at home
You don't need to force details out of them or bombard them with questions.
"You don't have to talk right now if you don't want to," and "I'm always here to listen whenever you feel like talking," and respect their timing.
🤝 Having someone the person finds easy to talk to—not just parents, but also trusted friends, teachers, club activity advisors, or school counselors—also helps with recovery.
⚠️ On the other hand, if behaviors such as self-harm, alcohol consumption, or extremely dangerous actions are observed, it is important not to wait and see too much just by thinking it is "because of adolescence."

🏠 Things to cherish at home at any age

💗 Do not invalidate children's feelings.
Accept feelings like "it was scary," "I didn't like it," and "I'm worried" just as they are.
⏰ Maintain your normal daily routine as much as possible
Meals, bathing, sleeping, going to kindergarten or school, and other daily routines lead to a sense of relief that "normal life has returned." However, there is no need to force things back to the way they were.
📺 Do not show scary news or footage repeatedly
Seeing footage of disasters and accidents repeatedly on television and social media can heighten anxiety and fear.
🌱 Especially young children may not understand that the same footage is being played repeatedly, and may take it as "another new disaster or accident has happened."
🧘 Show how adults also calm down
Showing how adults deal with their own feelings, such as saying, "I was scared too, so I talked to my family," or "I calmed down after taking a little walk," is also helpful for children.
👀 Don't jump to the conclusion that everything is fine yet.
Even if they seem to have recovered at first, anxiety and sleep problems may appear after a while. For weeks to months, please keep an eye out for changes in their sleep, appetite, school life, and friendships.

🏥 Please consider consulting a doctor or seeking medical attention in the following cases:

⚠️ If you notice any of the following signs, consider consulting a pediatrician/primary care physician, school counselor, child psychiatrist, or other professional.

• Even more than a month after the event, strong feelings of anxiety, fear, and nightmares continue.
• The symptoms are not improving over time and are rather getting worse.
• Cannot go to school or daycare
• I am strongly continuing to avoid specific places or people.
• My meals and sleep are greatly disrupted.
• I am losing weight
• Often zoning out and showing little response to the surroundings
• A strong depression persists.
• I am blaming myself harshly.
• There are obvious disruptions to family life and school life.
• Self-harm or dangerous behavior is observed.

🚨 If you or someone else makes statements such as "I want to disappear" or "I want to die," engages in self-harm, or is at risk of harming yourself or those around you, please consult a medical institution as soon as possible and ensure the person's safety first.

🌿 On the other hand, if symptoms are mild and daily activities such as eating, sleeping, and going to nursery school or school are maintained, you can also watch over the child's gradual recovery while providing a secure home environment and a regular daily routine.

🌸 Finally

🌱 Reactions to frightening events vary from child to child depending on their age, personality, past experiences, and the nature of the event itself.
There is no need to hesitate, wondering if it's okay to consult about something minor. If you notice unusual behavior continuing, or if you as a parent are unsure how to respond, please feel free to reach out, even for matters that seem trivial.

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📚 References

1. Wilson HW, Joshi SV. Recognizing and Referring Children With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Guidelines for Pediatric Providers. Pediatrics in Review. 2018.
   https://doi.org/10.1542/pir.2017-0036
2. Schonfeld DJ, Demaria T, Disaster Preparedness Advisory Council and Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health. Providing Psychosocial Support to Children and Families in the Aftermath of Disasters and Crises. Pediatrics. 2015.
   https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2015-2861
3. Hoffmann JA, Pergjika A, Burkhart K, et al. Supporting Children's Mental Health Needs in Disasters. Pediatrics. 2025.
   https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2024-068076
4. Zebda MA, Elkins SR, Franklin RA, Curtis DF. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Children and Adolescents. Pediatrics in Review. 2026.
   https://doi.org/10.1542/pir.2025-006778
5. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR). 2022.
6. Cohen JA, Kelleher KJ, Mannarino AP. Identifying, Treating, and Referring Traumatized Children: The Role of Pediatric Providers. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. 2008.

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