As Queensland residents try to rebuild their lives after the devastating effects of flood waters, children are part of one of the most vulnerable groups affected.

One of Australia's leading experts on child protection, Karen Flanagan AM, of Save the Children Australia, said, “The impact of a disaster can be incredibly traumatic for some children. It is imperative that parents and teachers are well equipped to identify key signs of when children are under stress in order to best support them.”

Common signs that children are under stress include sleeping and eating problems, defiance, separation anxiety, difficulty with schoolwork, aggression and fighting, extreme mood shifts, risk-taking behaviors, complaining of physical problems, and withdrawing from friends and family.

Below are some tips for supporting children during the flood disaster:

Care and protection
- Avoid separating young children from their primary caregivers for long periods.
- Minimize exposure to scary images and adult conversation about the devastation of the disaster.

Normal routine and reassurance
- Maintain regular routines and rituals. Structure and routine help children feel secure.
- Help children see the good things in the world around them.
- Maintain family rules and expectations.
- Be patient with extra reminders as children may be more distracted.
- Understand that they may have trouble concentrating, which can affect their schoolwork. Be encouraging and spend time helping them with their homework.

Responding to feelings and fears
- Take time to listen to their concerns. Listen and answer children’s questions as simply and honestly as you can.
- Allow children to be sad and cry; these are normal expressions of emotion.
- School-age children may return to behavior from early childhood, like thumb sucking or bedwetting. Be patient and supportive and try not to shame the child, as they are likely to be embarrassed that it is happening.
- Children may have physical complaints like headaches and stomach aches, that don’t have a medical basis. Sometimes a physical display is the body’s way of coping with emotional stress. Give comfort and reassurance and help the child put their worries into words; ask if they have something on their mind that is worrying them.
- School age children often feel that they are to blame when bad things happen. Reassure them that the disaster and related events were not their fault in any way.

Establish safety and control
- Repeatedly reassure children of their safety.