A psychologist at King Fahd University Hospital in Alkhobar, Saeed Wahaas, said that Saudi children are not subject to the so-called war trauma, indicating that this fear/illness occurs after six months of experiencing crisis.
He said that parents should explain Operation Decisive Storm and its objectives to their children and indicate that the war option is to defend our land and dignity.
He said: “Parents should take advantage of the current events to educate children to realize that life is not always smooth and that they should be able to accept the ups and downs in life. This behavior will enable children in the future to deal with the unpredicted events in a positive and logical manner.”
Wahaas called parents to answer their child’s inquiries in accordance with his or her mental age, and to discuss the current situation with objectivity and credibility.
He said that ignoring a child’s inquiries may cause him/her disorders such as anxiety, fear, nervousness, sleeplessness, depression or aggressive behavior. “No one can conceal what is occurring now because of the media and social networks.”
The psychologist warned of rumors and their impact, describing them as the most dangerous factor that can lead to increased concerns among the public, especially children.
He expressed surprise that many people in society have acted as if they were political analysts without a reliable source of information.
Abdul Majeed Niazi, a staff member at the sociology department at the Imam Muhammad bin Saud University, warned families against allowing children to watch videos that are often fabricated and full of violence, as well as listening to the news in detail.
Speaking on children’s inquiries, Niazi said: “There is no need to change your lifestyle at the present time, such as sleeping next to the child or keeping the lights on when the child is sleeping.”
He said that children should not be left alone, and parents should explain to the child that he is far from the area of war.
On the varying impact of these events on children, Niazi said: “This depends on the child’s character, consciousness and perception,” urging parents not to underestimate their child’s concerns in order to avoid the trauma or phobia of war.
‘Our children not subject to war trauma’
