READERS  SPEAKOUT
Trauma and children younger than three, 15 April 2007

Good day Speak Out

First off thank you for the wonderful service you offer people of our country.
I know you work specifically with adults but I wonder if you could help me at all or direct me to the right people. I am writing an article on how to help children under 3 years cope with trauma in the South African content for the Your Baby magazine. The readers are generally of middle socio-economic status.
Would be willing and able to provide me with information on any or all of the following topics?
South African statistics of violent crime on children , particularly under 3 years old.
How children under 3 are affected by:
violence loss
crime

Tips for parents on helping children to cope with being witness to:
hijacking
burglary
assault
rape
crime

Also , do you have any message that you would like to pass onto parents of young children in terms of crime, violence, loss or trauma that I could include from you or your organisation?
Do you know of any other organisations that may be able to provide me with this information?
I need this by Wednesday.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Warm wishes,
Sam Toweel -Moore
Consultant Occupational Therapist
Educational Toys and Products

SpeakOut!

Hi - we don't work with any specific age group, it is with people of all ages affected by trauma. The best person to speak to about child abuse is Joan van Niekerk, director of Childline in Durban.
Crime stats are not broken down into age group.

Key in some of your questions into our search engine and it will bring up answers.
Parents must know about the impact of post traumatic stress syndrome - read about it on the site. They must not assume that because these are little people they do not know, remember or will get over it quickly. They must go for counselling with a good child psychologist.