Teachers on lookout for quake-stressed kids at school

Boys of primary school age and girls in their mid-teens tended to be most affected, with the disruption to housing, schooling and sports often causing the most psychological damage. Photo / Supplied

Counsellors are waiting for Christchurch children to return to school after their holidays to see those not coping with the latest spate of earthquakes.

Continuing quakes over the past 16 months have resulted in many families seeking help for children who can't sleep, won't leave their parents' side or are showing other behaviour problems.

Counsellors say many of the most traumatised children improved as the quakes died down, but there is concern the latest series of quakes might have set that progress back.

Canterbury District Health Board child and adolescent mental health social worker Heather Clay said severe cases had not been seen since December 23 - when quakes were as large as magnitude 6 - but the end of the holiday period might change that.

"I suspect the reality of going back to home, school, work - that kind of thing - in the next few weeks is more likely to bring (the quake effects) on.

"And also the teachers then will see these kids - 90 per cent of the classrooms' kids are probably fine, and they will be able to see the ones that are not."

Boys of primary school age and girls in their mid-teens tended to be most affected, with the disruption to housing, schooling and sports often causing the most psychological damage.

Psychological Society president Frank O'Connor said children he saw, including his own 9-year-old son living in Christchurch, had been deeply affected by the quakes, but were getting more used to them.

"The young ones still burst into tears at significant aftershocks, but it takes a (magnitude) 4.5 now, whereas a year ago a 3 would set them off," Mr O'Connor said.

"I've asked around and it seems that kids have learned that the roar before significant shakes tells them to go somewhere safe and they 'do the turtle' willingly if things start to rattle.

"Most kids I know are pretty tired of shakes but don't seem to have the idea that they should stop - the fatalism of kids seems to help here."