Week Five- News Round Up-Christchurch Earthquake

This week, I wanted to think about last Tuesday's Christchurch Earthquake and how media coverage, including the web and social networking have responded, particularly when considering children.

Many of you will have had students arrive in your schools to have some respite from the continuing aftershocks especially those who have suffered enormous loss.

The Rotorua Daily Post reported today that 'Quake TV may disturb children' and that 'adults should limit what their children saw on television...there can be too many negative images of people being distressed and bodies being found...this can reinforce in them that it could happen here' This was also reported on 3 News this morning

TV One's Breakfast Show featured psychologist Nigel Latta describing how the quake will be a 'defining moment' in a child's life and that they would not necessarily "look back and remember the terrible stuff". He believes ' some "pretty robust" children will come out of Christchurch following the quake'. If you are interested in hearing Latta speak about what the research says about speaking to children post disaster click the link HERE to hear the radio comments

How have you approached talking about the earthquake with your kids, either as a parent or as a teacher?

Contrast this with the Kiwi Kids News website who have prepared a special report on the Christchurch Earthquake. "Included are the best news links, videos and teaching resources for classroom use" or the 'When my home shook' website where Primary and Intermediate students provide personal accounts of how they are coping and how their communities are supporting one another



Now I am not for a second considering that there is a right or wrong way to approach dealing with such a disaster but it is worth considering, especially if questions students have asked me are also being asked of you.

How did you respond when you heard about the 10,000 people strong Student Volunteer Army recruited via Facebook to help those suffering?

What about the 'Farmy Army' arriving on tractors helping to clean up and distribute supplies?

I am interested in your thoughts and comments and know that most of us cannot even imagine what it is truly like

K