Medford/Somerville, Mass. – “There is a lot of healing to be done,” Tufts’ David Elkind writes of Elian Gonzalez in this week’s Newsweek Magazine. The child development expert says that the six-year-old boy needs privacy and support to heal from the ongoing trauma and attention since his rescue at sea.

   “A child can deal with this much pressure for just so long,” Elkind writes. “Reuniting him with his father – and getting him out of the limelight – may give him the chance to do some of the healing he has not been able to do.”

   The expert on child adolescence cognitive and social development says that many people have overlooked the need for Elian to grieve his mother’s death. “He needs someone to remind him gently that she will not come back. He may also need help to work though the loss.”

   Elkind also appeared on NBC's Today Show on Monday to discuss the impact of recent events on Gonzalez. "He looks like a very resilient boy," Elkind told Today Show anchor Katie Couric. "I think he needs time to heal now, time to be quiet, time away from the media hustle, and time to be with his family, and hopefully, some professional help."

Online: http://www.tufts.edu/communications/printable/042400ElianNeedsPrivacy