How to Talk to Your Children about Violence, Terrorism, and War 6/2010
The following is summarized from the WebMD website:
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 may include: 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.
American Psychological Association: Resilience in a Time of War –
http://www.apahelpcenter.org/featuredtopics/feature.php?id=43
National Association of School Psychologists:
http://www.nasponline.org/NEAT/children_war.html
National Center for Children Exposed to Violence:
http://www.nccev.org/violence/children_terrorism.htm
Parents as Teachers National Center:
http://www.patnc.org/forparents-parentspage.asp#trauma