Roberta Schoemberg is a child development consultant based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With a wealth of experience in teaching preschool children and working in daycare centers, Schoemberg has dedicated her career to understanding and nurturing the development of children. Her work primarily involves collaborating with agencies, training staff, and working directly with individual children. Schoemberg's expertise extends to conducting play sessions with children, a method that allows her to observe and understand their behaviors and stories. One of her significant contributions is her work with children affected by disasters. Schoemberg has worked with children who have experienced the trauma of natural disasters, such as tornadoes in Western Pennsylvania. She has observed that children's reactions to such events can vary greatly, with some showing immediate crisis reactions and others suppressing their feelings until they are ready to deal with them. Schoemberg's approach to helping children cope with these traumatic experiences involves crisis intervention and providing adults with strategies to assist in the healing process. She believes in the importance of maintaining stable relationships in the child's life, such as with teachers, counselors, or family members, to provide a sense of security amidst the chaos. Schoemberg's work also involves studying the play behaviors of children affected by disasters, which she believes can provide insights into their concerns and fears [2]. She emphasizes the importance of play and storytelling in helping children cope with their feelings. In addition to her direct work with children, Schoemberg also contributes to the field by sharing her knowledge and experiences through presentations and discussions, providing valuable insights into the impact of disasters on children's mental health.

Scope and Content Note
This interview with Roberta Schoemberg, a child development consultant, focuses on her work with children affected by disasters, particularly their play behaviors and coping mechanisms. Schoemberg observes that children's reactions to traumatic events can vary, with some showing immediate crisis reactions and others suppressing their feelings. Her approach involves crisis intervention and providing strategies to adults to assist in the healing process. She emphasizes the importance of stable relationships for children's security. Schoemberg's study of children's play behaviors in disaster situations is discussed, with an emphasis on how play and storytelling can help children cope and symbolize their experiences. She provides examples of children's play behaviors after disasters, such as drawing and erasing images quickly or recreating the disaster through play. The interview also mentions Schoemberg's work in sharing her knowledge and experiences through presentations and discussions, contributing valuable insights into the impact of disasters on children's mental health.