Curated guides, videos, and articles to help children and the adults who care for them navigate trauma, grief, and crisis — including disasters, violence, displacement, and war.
Topic
Format
Natural Disasters
PDF
Trinka and Sam: The Big Fire
A free illustrated storybook from NCTSN for young children to help process the experience of a wildfire.
for childrenwildfirestorybook
PDF
Helping Children After a Wildfire
NASP guide for families and educators on supporting children's emotional recovery after a wildfire.
for familiesfor educatorswildfire
PDF
Your Playbook: Supporting Children During/After a Wildfire
A comprehensive resource guide for community members, helpers, and caregivers responding to wildfire events.
for helperswildfire
PDF
10 Ways to Support Children During or After a Wildfire
Practical tips from trauma-informed practitioners on immediate and long-term support after a wildfire.
wildfirepractical tips
Article
10 Ways to Support Children During or After a Wildfire (Psychology Today)
Expert advice from Psychology Today on trauma-informed approaches to wildfire recovery for children.
wildfire
PDF
Trinka and Sam: The Rainy Windy Day
An illustrated NCTSN storybook to help young children process the experience of a hurricane or storm.
for childrenhurricanestorybook
PDF
How the Hurricane Made Me Feel
A CDC activity worksheet for children to express their feelings after a hurricane or other natural disaster.
for childrenhurricaneactivity
Video
Tips for Parents and Caregivers Affected by Hurricanes
A short video with practical guidance for caregivers helping children process the aftermath of a hurricane.
for caregivershurricane
PDF
After the Earthquake: Helping Young Children Heal
Guidance for caregivers on supporting young children's emotional recovery after an earthquake or other disaster.
earthquakeyoung children
PDF
Psychological First Aid for Children After Natural Disasters
From NCSCB — practical psychological first aid approaches for mental health providers supporting children after disasters.
for helpersPFA
Video
Prepare with Pedro! Pedro Goes to a Shelter
A child-friendly video from Sesame Workshop to help young children understand emergency shelters and feel safe.
for childrenpreparedness
War & Conflict
PDF
Talking to Children and Teens About the Israel-Gaza War
From NCSCB — talking points and strategies for parents and educators having conversations about the conflict in Gaza with young people.
Israel-Gazafor families
Article
How to talk to children about the violence in Israel and Gaza
NPR article with expert guidance from child psychologists on age-appropriate conversations about the conflict.
Israel-Gazafor helpers
Video
A child psychologist's advice for talking with kids about Israel-Hamas war
A PBS NewsHour interview with a child psychologist offering practical, compassionate guidance for parents.
Israel-Hamasfor helpers
PDF
Promoting Compassion and Acceptance in Crisis
NASP guide on supporting children from all backgrounds during times of community conflict and political tension.
community conflictacceptance
PDF
Helping Children Cope With Terrorism
NASP guidance for parents and educators on helping children manage the fear and anxiety that can follow terrorism or mass violence.
terrorismfor helpers
PDF
Supporting Youth Affected by the War in Ukraine
NASP resource for school counselors and mental health professionals supporting Ukrainian students and those impacted by the war.
Ukrainefor educators
PDF
Talking to Children about the War in Ukraine: 15 Tips
A concise tipsheet for parents and helpers with 15 practical points for discussing the Ukraine war with children.
Ukrainefor helpers
PDF
Recommendations for Dealing with People During and After Crisis
A practical guide for helpers and first responders on supporting individuals in the immediate and aftermath phases of crisis.
for helperscrisis response
Article
How to Handle the Trauma of War from Afar
The APA offers strategies from psychologists for coping with stress caused by war, including for those without a direct personal connection.
for adultsUkrainestress
Video
Coping with Acute Grief, Trauma, and Survivor's Guilt
A recorded session with trauma experts on managing acute grief, traumatic stress, and survivor's guilt during ongoing crisis.
griefsurvivor's guiltfor adults
Video
Maintaining Resilient Families During War and Crisis
A webinar for families and helpers on preserving family resilience and connection during active conflict and displacement.
resiliencefamiliesUkraine
Article
The War Is Taking a Toll on Ukraine's Kids
An NPR illustrated piece on how children in Ukraine are coping — and how parents can help them through ongoing conflict.
Ukrainefor caregivers
Article
A 6-Year-Old Asks: Why Is There War in Ukraine?
A WBEZ piece on how parents can answer the impossible questions children ask about war, using a real family's experience as a guide.
Ukraineyoung children
Video
Child Psychologist Shares Advice: Russia-Ukraine War
CBS Mornings interview with a child psychologist offering guidance for parents talking to children about the war in Ukraine.
Ukrainefor caregivers
Article
Tips for Parents During Wartime
Practical tips from psychotraumaunit.com for parents on maintaining a sense of safety and stability for children during wartime.
for caregiverswartime
Grief & Trauma
PDF
What Is a Tragedy? A Social Story™
A Social Story™ by Carol Gray — the creator of the Social Stories™ approach — that helps children with autism understand what a tragedy is and how people respond to one.
autism / ASDfor childrenSocial Stories™
PDF
Tragedies on Television: A Social Story™
A Social Story™ by Carol Gray to help children with autism understand and process tragic news events they may see on television or screens at home.
autism / ASDfor childrenSocial Stories™media
PDF
Helping Children Cope After a Traumatic Event
Child Mind Institute guide for parents and caregivers on supporting children after any kind of traumatic experience.
for caregiverstrauma
Article
How Grief Impacts Children of Different Ages
The American Psychological Association explains how grief manifests differently across developmental stages from toddlers to teens.
griefdevelopmental stages
Video
Traumatic Bereavement
From the UK Trauma Council — an accessible video explaining traumatic bereavement and how to support grieving children.
bereavementtrauma
Video
The Butterfly Heart Hug
From Global Child EMDR — a gentle guided calming exercise using bilateral stimulation that children can do on their own.
for childrencalming exercise
Podcast
Helping Children Process and Cope with Tragic World News
A ReachMD Primary Care Today podcast with child psychologists on supporting children through difficult news and world events.
for helpersmedia
Website
Help Kids Cope App
A free NCTSN app helping parents support children after disasters and other stressful events, with tips by age and event type.
for caregiversapp
Multilingual Resources
— resources in 6 languages
EnglishEspañolУкраїнськаعربيעבריתTürkçe
PDF
بعد الزلزال: مساعدة الأطفال الصغار على الشفاء
Arabic-language guide to supporting young children's emotional recovery after an earthquake or major disaster.
Arabic / عربيearthquake
PDF
التحدث مع أطفالك عن الإسلاموفوبيا
An Arabic-language resource on talking with children about Islamophobia, discrimination, and community violence.
Arabic / عربيIslamophobia
PDF
مساعدة الأطفال على التعامل مع الصدمة
Child Mind Institute trauma guide translated into Arabic for families and helpers.
Arabic / عربيtrauma
PDF
אחרי משבר: לעזור לילדים קטנים להחלים
Hebrew-language guide for caregivers on supporting young children's emotional recovery after crisis or traumatic events.
Hebrew / עבריתtrauma
PDF
לעזור לילדים להתמודד עם טראומה
Child Mind Institute trauma guide translated into Hebrew for families and helpers.
Hebrew / עבריתtrauma
PDF
Comfort Kits'le Birlikte Kullanılabilecek Uygulamalar (Türkçe)
Turkish-language version of the Comfort Kits mind-body practices for children and caregivers.
Turkish / Türkçe
Website
Ресурси Українською / Ukrainian Resources
We have a dedicated page of resources for Ukrainian families and helpers — entirely in Ukrainian.
Ukrainian / Українська
Gun Violence
PDF
Helping Children Cope With A Gun Violence Tragedy
From Sandy Hook Promise — guidance for parents and caregivers on supporting children in the aftermath of a shooting tragedy.
for familiesgun violence
PDF
Talking to Children About Violence
A guide from NASP (National Association of School Psychologists) with conversation strategies for parents, educators, and counselors.
for educatorsviolence
Website
I Can Stay Safe
From Sesame Workshop — age-appropriate resources to help young children understand and practice safety.
for childrensafety
Video
What is Violence? — Sesame Street
A gentle, age-appropriate Sesame Street video helping young children understand what violence means and how to stay safe.
for childrenages 3–8
Resilience & Coping
Article
Building Your Resilience
The APA offers a roadmap for successfully adapting to challenging, life-changing situations and emerging stronger than before.
resiliencestressfor adults
Website
Resilience Across Borders
An organization that promotes building resilience in youth across cultures through research and evidence-based education.
resilienceyouth
Article
How to Cope with Traumatic Stress
APA guidance on understanding traumatic stress reactions and evidence-based strategies to heal over time.
traumastressfor adults
Website
ImaginAction
A Stanford initiative using guided imagery and creative expression to build resilience and coping skills in children.
resiliencefor childrencreative
Website
Voice4Comfort
Free audio exercises using guided imagery for adults and children to manage stress and anxiety. Created by Dutch healthcare professionals. Available in English and Ukrainian.
audio exercisesfor childrenfor adults
Website
49 Words
From Dr. David Wark — a powerful self-hypnosis technique with a simple script that can help children and adults manage stress and anxiety.
self-hypnosisstress
Video
Sesame Street: The Count's 10 Second Hum
A Sesame Street calming technique kids love — hum for 10 seconds with the Count to reset and calm down.
for childrencalming
Video
Abby & Telly's Ocean Bottle
Sesame Street characters demonstrate making a calming glitter jar — a simple mindfulness tool children can create and use at home.
for childrencalmingactivity
Video
Sesame Street: Hum Along to Sunny Days
A cheerful humming exercise with Sesame Street characters to help young children reset and return to calm.
for childrencalming
Video
Big Bird's Comfy-Cozy Nest
Big Bird creates a cozy safe space and guides children through a gentle calming visualization exercise.
for childrensafe spacevisualization
Video
Everyone Can Be a Superhero!
A fun, affirming video from Sesame Workshop helping young children discover their own inner strength and resilience.
for childrenresilience
Displacement & Refugees
PDF
Caring for Children through Conflict and Displacement
A comprehensive UN/UNODC booklet for caregivers and helpers supporting children who have experienced conflict and forced displacement.
displacementrefugeesfor helpers
PDF
Parents and Caregivers Are Heroes: Protecting Our Children in Crisis
A guide from the Ukraine Parenting Response initiative for parents navigating crisis with children, emphasizing caregiver resilience.
Ukrainefor caregivers
Website
Psychological First Aid for Displaced Children and Families
NCTSN resources on applying psychological first aid with families who have been forcibly displaced by conflict or disaster.
PFAdisplacementfor helpers
Video
Displacement and Resettlement with Sesame Street
A Sesame Street video helping young children understand displacement and resettlement in age-appropriate, comforting language.
for childrendisplacement
Video
Parenting in a New Context
A Boston Children's Hospital YouTube playlist with guidance for refugee and immigrant parents raising children in a new country.
refugeesfor caregivers
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