Children Exposed to Terrorism and its Lasting Negative Effects

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Bina Nusantara University psychology academic Nanang Suprayogi explained that the numerous terror acts happening around the world, including just recently in Indonesia, will have a negative effect towards children that are exposed to the news.

“This bomb terror will cause a long lasting trauma [especially] the ones that are directly exposed to the explosions will possibly have fear towards crowds,” said Nanang on Tuesday, May 15.

The trauma that the children endures is in principle similar to what adults feel, but it can have a worse effect towards children, especially those who are exposed to the tools and materials linked to the explosive device that are mostly improvised explosive devices or IEDs.

IEDs usually utilize everyday objects as explosive materials such as cooking pots, construction nails, PVC pipes, and other daily relatable objects. Surviving children will potentially be traumatized by these daily-relatable objects.

This can cause the child to suffer from phobia, according to Nanang, and is the responsibility of the parents to limit or completely close any opportunity for children to access vulgar contents, especially pictures and videos.

“Take example of a TV program that is broadcasting a picture of [a terror event] change the channel if your child is watching it too,” said Nanang.

Letting your children witness such tragedies can scar their memories until they grow into an adult. Nanang also explained that parents should educate their child to be sympathetic and show empathy towards terror victims and the values of diversity in belief.

BISNIS.COM