In the aftermath of disaster: talking to your kids about tragedy
September 11,
2001. It was a
day that, like Pearl
Harbor, will
live in infamy,
and no one will soon forget. On
that day
terrorists attacked the United
States, and its unsuspecting citizens. But,
after this
day of terror, how should a parent talk to their children about tragedy?
Following is a list of
recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics which contains
suggestions to help parents
communicate with children and adolescents throughout a time of
crisis.
Communicate to
children
to assure them that they are safe. Parents should assure children
that every precaution has been
made to
keep the children safe.
Limit contact
to the
media. Overexposure to the media can be
traumatizing. It is unwise to let
children and adolescents view footage of traumatic events over and
over. Children and adolescents should not be
allowed to watch these events alone.
Watch
Adolescents. Adolescents in particular should be
watched
because they may be easily disturbed by these events. Parents need to
pay attention to:
sleep
disturbances, fatigue, lack of pleasure in activities enjoyed
previously, and initiation
of illicit substance abuse.
Adults need to
help
children understand the significance of these events. Discussion
is critical. It should
be stressed that the terrorist acts are ones of desperation and horror –
and that
they’re not about politics or religion. Children should
know
that lashing out at members of a particular religious or ethnic group
will only
cause more harm.
