1. Did civil defense films like Duck and Cover comfort or traumatize American children?

The civil defense film such as Dock and cover usually traumatize American children.

Therefore traumatize is correct.

Learn more at:

link

Traumatize

Explanation:

With both the United States and Soviet Union stockpiling nuclear weapons, fears of nuclear warfare pervaded American society and culture in the 1950s. Schools began issuing dog tags to students so that their families could identify their bodies in the event of an attack. The US government provided instructions for building and equipping bomb shelters in basements or backyards, and some cities constructed municipal shelters. Nuclear bomb drills became a routine part of disaster preparedness.

Hope this was helpful