Israel-Palestinian conflict traumatic for children in the region

Though the death toll on the Israeli side of this conflict has been low compared to that in Gaza, and lower than one might think with 4,000 rockets fired across the border, the stress has been immeasurable. 

Though the death toll on the Israeli side of this conflict has been low compared to that in Gaza, and lower than one might think with 4,000 rockets fired across the border, the stress has been immeasurable. Psychotherapist Judith Bar-Hay of the Resilience Center said that keeping children busy with tasks around the house helps them forget their worries. It's important they feel responsible, she said. It gives them courage. "Sending letters to soldiers, calling their grandmother....doing the laundry, washing the dishes," Bar-Hay said. She also suggested things like anointing children in communal shelters "Minister of Sports" to have them organize exercise for everyone, or "Minister of Religion" to rally neighbors for prayer as another tool to help distract those who are scared, as most are, with sirens sounding day and night. But Bar-Hay said she tells children not to be afraid of the sirens. They are like seatbelts, she said. They save lives. Social workers see a lot of older children wetting their beds, unable to sleep and zombie-like during this period. A lot hangs on the shoulders of parents, often frightened themselves. If adults channel calm, it will help their children pass through an experience like war less scarred, according to people at the Center.