Children's artworks hanging from the cordon fence on Gloucester Street.
An infographic giving tips on helping children deal with earthquakes.
A photograph of children playing on the Sumner Skate Park.
Five years on from the 2010-2011 Canterbury earthquakes, research has shown an increase in hyperarousal symptoms in school children. While Cognitive Behaviour Therapy is currently the gold standard for treating Post-Traumatic Stress, there are insufficient clinicians to treat the high numbers of children in post-disaster communities. Alternative non-verbal interventions in school based settings that target the physiological basis of hyperarousal may be more effective for long term stress reduction in some young children. Neuroscience research suggests that drawing activates brain areas connected with the autonomic nervous system, resulting in relaxation and self-regulation. The aim of the current study was to determine whether a 20-minute drawing lesson during the afternoon of the school day would reduce stress in children with hyperarousal symptoms. The study had a single subject ABA design. Four children participated, two of the children exhibited hyperarousal symptoms, and the other two did not, as determined by teacher and parent responses on the Behaviour Problem Index (BPI). The children’s selfreported stress (measured by the Subjective Unit of Distress (SUD) thermometer) and physiological stress (measured by finger temperature) were recorded at the start and end of each session during baseline, drawing lessons, and return to baseline phases. The results of the study showed a general reduction in physiological stress during the drawing lessons for the children with hyperarousal symptoms. However, the results indicated some discrepancies between the children’s physiological stress and perception of stress, which may suggest that the self-report measure was inappropriate for the children in this study. Overall, the study suggests that drawing lessons show promise as a school-based intervention for reducing stress in children with hyperarousal. More research is required to address the limitations of the present study, and before the study can be applied to the whole classroom as a positive strategy for managing stress at school.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Major earthquake hits Christchurch. Etusia Kaleuati slept in her van in a city car park with her 5 children. Eteusia Kaleuati pictured with one of her children, Juliah (8 months)".
An aerial photograph of the children's play area at the Botanic Gardens.
Staying with earthquakes and three years on from the deadly quake in Christchurch an increasing number of children are turning to counselling services for help.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is promising help for Tongan children traumatised by Cyclone Gita and says New Zealand was too slow responding to children caught up in the Christchurch earthquakes. Ms Ardern spent the day in Nuku'alofa where she went to a school that was badly damaged from the cyclone last month. RNZ political reporter Mei Heron is in Tonga.
28 February 2012. File reference: CCL-2012-01-28-AroundChristchurch-IMG_0012 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
28 February 2012. File reference: CCL-2012-01-28-AroundChristchurchIMG_0013 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
28 February 2012. File reference: CCL-2012-01-28-AroundChristchurch-IMG_0014 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
28 February 2012. File reference: CCL-2012-01-28-AroundChristchurch-IMG_0009 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
28 February 2012. File reference: CCL-2012-01-28-AroundChristchurch-IMG_0015 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
28 February 2012. File reference: CCL-2012-01-28-AroundChristchurch-IMG_0010 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Children play in inflatable balls at the Canterbury A&P Show.
Helen Trappitt and her children photographed at Gap Filler's Monopoly square.
Felled trees in the Christchurch Botanic Gardens, near the children's playground.
A photograph of children enjoying the In Your Face installation at LUXCITY.
A photograph of children enjoying the In Your Face installation at LUXCITY.
A felled tree in the Christchurch Botanic Gardens, near the children's playground.
A damaged footpath through the children's playground in the Christchurch Botanic Gardens.
A felled tree in the Christchurch Botanic Gardens, near the children's playground.
A felled tree in the Christchurch Botanic Gardens, near the children's playground.
A felled tree in the Christchurch Botanic Gardens, near the children's playground.
Damage to the facade of the former Children's library on Hereford Street.
Children and adults line up for races at Gap Filler's Fun Fair.
A photograph of children cycling on the Fulton Hogan BMX Pump Track.
Children play under parachute silk at Gap Filler's Fun Fair in Addington.
Children play under parachute silk at Gap Filler's Fun Fair in Addington.
Children and adults line up for races at Gap Filler's Fun Fair.