When children have experienced a traumatic event, life feels out of control. In normal times the adults in their lives control much of their life, but when children have survived a disastrous event their life seems really out of control. When this occurs their behavior is sometimes affected. Children who were shy may become aggressive. Children who were outgoing may become shy and cling to parents.
Adults can help children feel more in control again in several ways.
Give children choices, but limit the choices. And make sure you can accept whichever choice your child makes. Choosing between two things is often good. If you want to give your child a choice of what he or she might wear, the choice you offer them should be between two pieces of clothing, either of which is acceptable to you. Or you might want to give your child a choice of when he or she must go to bed, but again, give two choices.