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Although the knowledge base regarding very young children's responses to trauma has been expanding, descriptions of their responses to terrorism remain sparse. Yet, their vulnerability makes this an important group to study. Recent events in the United States (9/11, Hurricane Katrina) make this question highly relevant. This study aims to provide extensive descriptions of how children 5 years or younger on September 11th who were living in close proximity to Ground Zero responded that day and in the following months. Sixty-seven New York City parents (with 104 children) participated in focus groups between November 2001 and May 2002. Focus groups also provided a foundation for an in-depth study examining young children's adaptation following 9/11 and changes in parenting behaviors after the disaster. Findings on children's behavioral and emotional reactions on 9/11 and in the 8 months after as well as their need to return to normalcy are reported. Consistent with current understanding of trauma symptoms in young children, parents reported behaviors including chronic sleep disruptions, fearful reactions, development of new fears, and increased clinginess and separation anxiety following the disaster. On the actual day, children's responses were described as ranging from calm and cooperative to difficult and panicky. Implications for working with parents and young children affected by terrorism or community-level trauma and directions for future research are discussed.RESUMEN: Aunque se ha expandido el conocimiento básico acerca de las respuestas de los niños muy pequeños al trauma, las descripciones de sus respuestas al terrorismo son escasas. Y a pesar de todo, su vulnerabilidad hace deéste un importante grupo para el estudio. Eventos recientes en los Estados Unidos (el 11 de septiembre, el huracán Katrina) hacen que esta pregunta resulte altamente relevante. Este estudio This research was funded by a Barnard College Faculty Grant and by the National Institute of Mental Health RO1 MH66462-01. The authors acknowledge and thank the families and preschools involved in this study for their time, willingness to participate, and openness during a particularly difficult time following the events of 9/11. Direct correspondence to: Tovah P. Klein, Barnard College, 3009 Broadway, New York, NY 10027; e-mail: tklein@barnard.edu se propone proveer descripciones extensas de cómo los niños de 5 años o menores el 11 de septiembre de 2001, que vivían en las proximidades delárea conocida hoy como "Ground Zero," respondieron ese día y en los meses siguientes. Sesenta y siete progenitores de la ciudad de Nueva York (con 104 niños) participaron en grupos de enfoque entre noviembre de 2001 y mayo de 2002. Los grupos de enfoque también proveyeron una base para un estudio profundo que examinara la adaptación de los menores después del 11 de septiembre y los cambios en la conducta de crianza después del desastre. Se reportan los resultados de las reacciones de conducta y emocionales de los niños, tanto el 11 de septiembre como...

Maternal mind-mindedness (MM) reflects a caregiver's tendency to view a child as an individual with an independent mind. Research has linked higher MM with more favorable parenting and child adaptation. The aim of this study was to examine whether MM was associated with toddlers' behavior problems and competence, and the moderating role of trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a sample (N = 212) of adolescent mothers and their toddlers. MM was coded from maternal utterances during free play; mothers completed the University of California at Los Angeles Trauma and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Reaction Index and reported on children's behavior problems and competence using the Brief Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment. The majority of mothers (84%) experienced trauma; 45% of these mothers met criteria for partial or full PTSD. Trauma was related to greater behavior problems, and PTSD moderated MM-child functioning relations. When mothers experienced full PTSD, there was no relation between MM and behavior problems. With child competence, when compared to children of mothers with no trauma exposure, children of mothers experiencing partial PTSD symptoms were more likely to have delays in competence when mothers made more MM comments. Results are discussed in light of how MM, in the context of trauma and PTSD, may affect parenting.

Delivering a breastfeeding message consistently during regular home visits is important for increasing breastfeeding rates. Given that home visiting programs target new mothers least likely to breastfeed, a more consistent focus on breastfeeding in this supportive context may reduce breastfeeding disparities.

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