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TERRORISM AND WAR: TALKING TO CHILDREN
The following is summarized from "Telling Your Kids About War" by Jeanie Lerche Davis posted on theWebMD website: www.webmd.com/content/Article/61/67258.htm
Children may become confused, troubled or overwhelmed when watching, reading or hearing news on war or acts of terrorism and violence in the world. They may ask difficult questions or react in unexpected ways. The following tips are offered to help children:
- Look for signs of stress: (examples: becoming antsy and talkative, if usually quiet; becoming quiet or sullen, if usually happy; changing eating or sleeping habits).
- Accept fears as real: children need to know that everyone feels sad or angry at times.
- Encourage children to open up: adults need to initiate discussions and allow children to talk, draw pictures, or try to describe what they’re feeling.
- Reassure children: let them know that their lives and daily routines will continue.
- Teach children to cope: let them know that it’s OK to feel afraid, confused or angry and share positive things to do to calm themselves (such as reading, listening to music, etc.)
- Turn off the TV: children can become frightened by visual images repeated in newscasts.
- Keep discussions on the child’s level of comprehension.
Further information and useful tips for talking to children about terrorism or war can be found on the internet.
Some sources are:
1. American Psychological Association: Resilience in a Time of War: www.apahelpcenter.org/featuredtopics/feature.php?id=43
2. National Center for Children Exposed to Violence: http://www.nccev.org/
3. PBS Parents: http://www.pbs.org/parents/talkingwithkids/news/
4. Parents as Teachers National Center: http://www.parentsasteachers.org/site/pp.asp?c=ekIRLcMZJxE&b=272135
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SOURCES: American Psychological Association website; National Center for Children Exposed to Violence website; PBS Parents website; Parents as Teachers National Center website; WebMD website
PREPARED BY: 211/pt
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: May2008
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