A Creative Method of Informing Children about PTSD

NATAL is anything but ordinary. The organization tries to reach out and touch people in ways that make people remember their name and what services are offered. The population of children is one that is especially fragile. Through is approach NATAL in collaboration with Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany, NATAL provided therapy through a puppet show. This project, entitled "Princess Kuntz and the Mirror of Miracles" directed by Irit Bashan, is shown at preschools and primary schools throughout Israel and teaches children about what PTSD is and how to overcome the repercussions of suffering from this disorder. Theater brings the imaginary ideas into a sort of alternative reality that allows people to relate to and understand something further than what can be understood through verbal or rote learning. The puppet show is aimed at children in Northern and Southern Israel especially where the highest levels of terror and violence occur. It is a form of long-term treatment that is meant to leave a lasting imprint on the children that watch the show. I felt that the mixing of visual art with academic learning about current issues is a fascinating intervention tool that really gets to the core of the population. The show is at the end of a four session learning period with the teacher and the NATAL team to learn resiliency tools directly in the classroom and the show culminates what the children learn in the classroom. It is a way to get directly to the children's emotions.