Parents call for help for kids terrified by Christchurch earthquake

With schools closed, Sonya Marriott, 13, and Hayden Strickland, 12, had time to check a bridge that crosses the Avon at Avonside. Photo / Sarah Ivey

As aftershocks continue to rock Canterbury, exhausted parents are pleading for help in dealing with children too terrified to be on their own or go to bed at night for fear of another massive jolt.

Reports are emerging of youngsters who are so traumatised that they break down at the slightest noise, others who constantly want to be carried around by their parents out of fear of being on their own, and children who are too scared to go to sleep at night.

The reactions, according to experts, are normal and to be expected from children who have suffered a traumatic event.

"Our toddler [3 years] won't let us out of his sight even to the point he wants to be carried nearly everywhere," said one mother who pleaded for help on Facebook.

A response from Karen Semmens said it could take months for children to recover.

"Having survived the Edgecumbe earthquake in 1987 (my sons were 2 and 5 years old), my heart goes out to everyone and especially those with young children ... I would say to parents, be prepared for the insecurity to go on for some months yet."

Clinical psychologist Sarb Johal, who helped compile the government's guidance on psychosocial recovery after emergency events, said family was the most important part of a child's life and their response to a traumatic event largely depended on how their parents reacted to it.

He said children needed to make sense of things that happened and when they didn't have all the facts, they used their imagination to fill the gaps.

"Often this results in misunderstandings, which they may keep to themselves, especially if they are frightening. What they imagine is usually more frightening than what really happened."

Ministry of Education deputy secretary Nicholas Pole said it was normal for people to experience a range of emotions after a traumatic event such as the earthquake.

Mr Pole said some children might experience problems sleeping, bad dreams and waking in the night. Other common symptoms could include clinginess, not eating or overeating, and changes in behaviour.

The ministry has posted tips on its website on how parents can support their children in the coming weeks as they deal with the aftermath of the earthquake. There are also tips on how to support adults who may be struggling.

The ministry's traumatic incident team is also working out how best to support the area's 300 schools and 400 early childhood centres once they reopen, after a damage assessment which is expected to finish today.

Psychologist David Johnston, director of Massey University's Joint Centre for Disaster and a specialist in trauma management, said people might be worried, anxious, frightened or just uncertain about their futures in the coming days and weeks.

Research showed that "most people will be okay", especially if they have their usual resources to draw upon, but there would be others who would need more support.

Dr Lyndy Matthews, chairwoman of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists' New Zealand committee, said earthquake victims might be affected by shock, grief and loss and it was important that help was available to them in the aftermath.

She said a lot could be done to help, but caution was required in revisiting the traumatic events through "debriefing", as it could compound the trauma.