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Behaviour/development

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Anxious Toddler following Car Accident

3 replies

BlueberryPancake · 08/08/2008 20:41

I have a 2.5 year old and we had a small-ish car accident three days ago. We got hit on the passenger side, towards the front of the car, so the impact wasn't great but we all felt it. He has had problems falling asleep since then, and we have been in a car a couple of times and all he does during that time is to talk about the accident and he is visibly anxious. He says things like: 'slow down mum, don't have another bang, don't go too fast now'. What should we do? Should we not drive for a little while or drive anyway and reassure him, and talk to him about it? I'm really not sure what the best thing to do is.

OP posts:
chefswife · 08/08/2008 20:45

i don't know what an expert would say but i'm thinking continuing to drive and letting him talk about it is very good. maybe start a i spy game or something to take his mind off it a bit. good to hear no one was hurt.

MatNanPlus · 08/08/2008 20:51

i would continue to drive, distract him with general chatter.

I would also ask family and friends not to talk about it around him and defer any questions he asks them to yourselves so he gets the same explanation each time of asking.

Bewilderbeast · 08/08/2008 21:03

continue to drive get him a toy for the car or a tape of his favourite tunes/nursery rhymes to distract him. take short journeys with things he likes to do at the end like the park

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