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Have you been looking for a way to help your child prepare for possible trauma? Or how to respond to fear in their lives? We are excited to share the recently published book “Something Scary Happened” written by Darby Strickland.

“Our Kids can be impulsive and reactive and we need to give them the tools to protect them.
The rate of sexual abuse is too high in our culture for the typical child, and even higher for our children lagging in skills and who have disabilities. Our children need our strategies and open conversations to help prepare them for the dangers lurking among us. The most nauseating part of this reality is that this conversation has to start at such a young age.
Are we preparing our children for situations they may walk into? What comforts can we bring them when something scary, something traumatic does happen?
As one of the last pages in the back of the book “Something Scary Happened,” by Darby Strickland, she states “The deepest delight of God’s heart is to care for His children, and He has appointed us as His under-shepherds to help care for them. After a traumatic event, your shepherding can make a child feel safe and loved by you and the Lord. You can help children navigate their fears, guide them through their distress, and assist their recovery. Research suggests that a nurturing relationship with a caregiver is more valuable and impactful to a child’s recovery than the best counseling. Remember, your child needs you when something scary happens more than they need a trauma expert.”
From the book, “Something Scary Happened, “Miles is a happy little lamb until something scary happens.” This book will walk you and your child through the emotions that may happen when something scary happens. It is a good introductory conversation piece for our children, their parents and caregivers at such a young vulnerable age.
Miles is feeling alone walking through a dark valley of his very scary experience. He asks many questions of his good Shepherd. Are you always with me? Can I always see You? What about when my stomach hurts, when I get mad, or worry it is all my fault? The book continues to point comfort to the little lamb by our good Shepherd as He walks Miles through Psalm 23. Our good Shepherd teaches Miles that nothing can separate Miles from His love, that he can tell the good Shepherd about everything, and reminds Miles He gave His life for him.
Scripture states clearly we are to obey our parents, ministers, teachers, caregivers, and providers. So how do we teach our children compliance while still protecting them from and when something scary happens to them? How can we teach them to respect authority and still give them the autonomy to say no?
Children naturally have a desire for connection and the pull to please and the pull to fit in. Then there is the pull to have friends and this alone can be enough reason for a child to react when something scary or traumatic happens.
This book establishes a good beginning to familiarize this conversation, to share about Jesus our good Shepherd and our Protector.”
~Reviewed by a friend of Haven.

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