.
Use of Illustrations
The drawings throughout the book can be used by families, teachers, teenagers and children in a variety of ways to help strengthen normal coping. Young children (ages 2-4), severely traumatized children, and learning-disabled or "learning specific" children (who may have a preference for visual as opposed to auditory communication) can color in the illustrations with an adult to aid in nonverbal mastery of their worries. The pictures can then be used as starting points for open- ended discussions about the events pictured. Adults and children who are "overwhelmed" with sadness, flashbacks, memories, and anxiety, who startle easily, or have insomnia or nightmares may find the process of coloring in images of the experience helpful. We suggest they choose to start with the illustrations furthest from their own experience and gradually work up to those closest to their own experience. Family members can sometimes all work on a drawing together, each coloring a portion. This may allow everyone to feel less distraught about the image before them and take control together, feel calmer and remember their feelings. The illustrations can be used as topics for early and middle childhood classroom discussion. This can be an aid in remembering and re-experiencing for those children who remain emotionally numb or have some trouble putting their fears into words. For example, a parent could ask about an illustration: "What is this child feeling?" or "What is happening?" Children often can respond by describing what someone else is feeling, when they can't talk about their own feelings. The illustrations can be used for mastery-promoting activity. Ask the child to draw a picture of what he and the family can do to make things better. Focus on benevolent aspects: what the scene will look like when there is peace again.
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online