Communicating with Children: Helping children in distress

In times of war, disaster and emergency, children become lost or abandoned, experience deprivation and ill-treatment, and witness violence. Beyond protection, food, healthcare, and a home, children need emotional and psychological support.

Communicating with Children aims to help those working with children in conflict and emergencies to:

– develop their helping skills–in particular, skills in listening and communicating;

– be confident in their ability to gain children’s trust and help them cope with the painful emotions and difficult behavior they may show when under stress;

– identify children who need extra help;

The manual covers the practical problems that arise when talking with children: building trust, how to comfort a child in distress, and how to give practical and emotional support.