Parenthood is filled with around a million different challenges, and one of those is the challenge of dealing with the kids after there has been an accident. You’re so busy taking care of you and everyone else that it can be easy to forget that your child – who has seemed fine and resilient at the time – has been through something incredibly scary. Children are not adults in miniature: they cannot regulate their moods and feelings in the same way that we can. You can help, though. You can get back to the normal routines that you had set out and stop being overly cautious. Making life easy after a trauma is not going to be a simple thing to do, but that doesn’t mean that it cannot be done.

Children need to know that they are safe, secure and are no longer in any danger, and you’re the person who is going to ensure that they know that everything is just fine. Knowing the red flags to tell you that your child is not okay is a must. You need to know that they are going to be fine. The most minor car accident can trigger trauma for children as much as it can for adults. If you can imagine how nervous you feel getting back behind the wheel, your child feels the same. You may well have a personal injury law firm on your side working on the legal side of things after an accident, but what about your children? Who’s working on them? 

You need to keep an eye on the signs of distress that can pop up in your child. These can include:

• Young children can go backwards in their behavior. Your previously potty-trained toddler may start wetting the bed again.
• Your child may be on you like glue, not wanting to leave your side.
• Older children and teenagers may act out in anger that the accident happened to them.
• Sleeping trouble is common as a sign of trauma.

You have to be as balanced as possible in your approach to help your child to tackle the trauma that they feel. To be able to do that, keep this list in mind. These do’s and don’ts will help you to tackle the situation and guide your child toward feeling good once more.

Talk to your kids. Ask them how they feel. If they don’t want to talk, don’t push them. Stay calm and stick to the facts that occurred and you can talk them through the accident, how they felt at each stage. It can help children to identify each of their feelings, and you can help them to do that.

1. Routine is key so as fast as you can, get them back into their daily routines. Back to school and daycare as soon as you can and your children will start to feel more secure in their surroundings.
2. Don’t worry if they don’t want to talk. Keep creating the right environment for them to talk to you and eventually, they will want to once more.
3. Get as much help as you can, from your doctor to your friends and family.

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