Even with the healing passage of time, children can have trouble handling the emotions of fear, anger and grief, and the continuing national war on terrorism raises the emotional stakes. Connect for Kids has compiled resources to help.
- Helping Kids Cope With Trauma [1]
- Guidance for Adults [5]
- Anti-Discrimination Resources [6]
- Lesson Plans for Teachers [7]
Helping Children in Times of Terrorism [8]
"We would stress it will generally be the terror generated by a major event,
not the event itself, that will have the greatest long-term negative impact
on children and families throughout the nation," says the Centers for
Disease Control Task Force on Children and Terrorism. They recommend safeguarding America's children by meeting the physical, medical,
psychological and social needs of infants, kids and adolescents in
preparation and in response to a terrorist attack.
Parents' Guide to Talking with Their Children About War [9]
The National Center for Children Exposed to Violence (NCCEV) [10] at the Yale Child Study Center offers guidance for educators as they help their students process news and information about war and terrorism.
Supporting
Our Children [11]
All of us who care for children work hard to help them make sense of their world. Now, as adults and kids struggle to come to terms with the seemingly senseless attacks in New York and Washington, D.C., we need to find other ways to help them feel safe. Outreach specialist Jan Richter and managing editor Susan Phillips share some thoughts.
Children, Terrorism and Disasters [12]
The American Academy of Pediatrics offers this site for "Disaster Preparedness to Meet Children's Needs." Here you'll find information on biological and chemical agents, disaster planning, facts, links and readiness kits.
Talking
with Kids about Tough Issues [13]
This Web site offers practical, concrete tips and
techniques for talking easily and openly with young
children ages 8 to 12 about some very tough issues:
sex, HIV/AIDS, violence, drugs and alcohol, and
terrorism.
Helping
Children After a Disaster [14]
This article from the American Academy of Child
and Adolescent Psychiatry has suggestions for post-disaster
response to children following catastrophes such
as earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, fires
and violent acts.
Parenting in the
Wake of Terrorism [15]
The Purdue University Extension offers advice to
help families as we continue to cope with the aftermath of the September 11th terrorist attacks.
Talking
to Children About Violence and Other Sensitive and Complex Issues [16]
Educators for Social Responsibility has developed
an in-depth document that attempts to answer tough
questions about the role of media and anxiety and
emotions—both the adult and the child's—about a
tragic event. It also discusses how to talk
about a young person's possible desire to 'retaliate'
with violence.
Talking to Kids about Terrorism or Acts of War [17]
Kids ask lots of tough questions, but questions
about acts of terrorism or war are some of the hardest
to answer. This guide helps answer some common questions
and concerns parents and professionals have about
talking to children about terrorism and war.
Identifying and Lessening
Trauma in Children [18]
This American Psychological Association site includes
descriptions of signs of trauma in elementary, middle
and high school age children, and guidance for parents
of children, by age.
Will They Fly
A Plane Into Our House? [19]
In response to the 9-11 terrorist attacks, Childswork/Childsplay
and The Guidance Channel are offering a free downloadable
book (in pdf format) to help children deal with
their fears and anxiety. The book, for parents and
adults who work with children ages 5-12, includes
a answers to kids' questions and activities for
kids. They also have Crisis Resources [20].
How Does Trauma Impact Learning? [21]
Civitas offers insights into how to recognize the signs of trauma in children.
Age by Age Insights [23]
PBSParents provides a wide range of helpful tips for parents as they talk to their kids about war and violence. This section offers different sections for babies and toddlers, preschoolers and school age children.
Helping Families Cope with War and Trauma [24]
The Parents as Teachers National Center offers tips for parents of young children.
Helping
Kids With Special Needs [25]
Children with a learning disability or ADHD may
feel especially vulnerable in the wake of this tragedy.
LDOnline has guidelines for age-appropriate help.
Nickelodeon
Parent Talk: Violence [26]
Sometimes, violence and the fear of it can feel
overwhelming. In today's world reports of violence
in the media, in our neighborhoods and even in our
schools can make children feel frightened, unsafe
and insecure. Talking about it can offer an emotional
release.
Tragic
Times, Healing Words: Helping Children Cope [27]
It's never easy to know what to say to children
in times like these. Sesame Street Parents has developed
some suggestions for ways of talking to your child
about recent events.
Talking to Children
About Death [29]
Most of the time adults are reluctant to talk about
death with children. These brochures from Hospice
Net have helpful guidance for talking about death
with children and teenagers.
Children and
Grief [30]
When a family member dies, children react differently
from adults. Adding to a child's shock and confusion
at the death of a brother, sister or parent is the
unavailability of other family members, who may
be so shaken by grief that they are not able to
cope with the normal responsibility of child care.
Helping
Kids Deal with Scary News [31]
Words of advice from Mr. Rogers: help children
feel secure, limit TV and listen.
Resources
for Helping Children Cope with Trauma and Loss [32]
AboutOurKids.org [33]
provides information and offers advice for parents,
educators, and mental health and medical professions
to help children cope with the September 11th attack.
Preparing
to Handle Disaster [36]
The American Academy of Pediatrics Family Readiness
Kit offers concrete advice for what families can
do in advance to prepare for the disruptions and
possible dangers presented by a tornado, hurricane,
or terrorist attack.
Crisis
Communication Guide [37]
The National Education Association has posted resources
and tools from its guide, which addresses parent
and community concerns, as well as those of teachers
in the classroom.
Q
& A on Anthrax [38]
Having good information is one of the best ways
to protect your family against bioterrorism. The
American Academy of Pediatrics offers guidelines.
Teaching
Tolerance [40]
Tolerance.org is a project of the Southern Poverty
Law Center, a national non-profit civil rights organization
that promotes tolerance and diversity and combats
hate and discrimination through education, investigation
and litigation. This online resource is designed
for easy access to news and engaging exercises that
promote personal soul-searching.
When
Hurt Leads to Hate [41]
As adults we need to be aware of and stand up to
physical and emotional hate and empower our children
to do the same. This article from the New York University
Child Study Center has ideas for how parents can
help children deal with this crisis without becoming
prejudiced, stereotyping specific groups, or retaliating
with acts of bias.
Reporting
Harassment [42]
If you or your children have been subjected
to harassment or attack, the Council on American
Islamic Relations Web site has guidelines, a phone
number and an online reporting form.
Arab American Anti-discrimination
Committee [43]
"Advice
to Educators" [44] offers teachers and youth
workers information about teaching tolerance and
suggestions in how to create a safe environment
for potentially targeted students. "How to Respond to Incidents
of Discrimination in Schools:Advice to Parents" [45]
details a step-by-step course of action.
Parents' Guide to Talking with Their Children About War [47]
The National Center for Children Exposed to Violence (NCCEV) [48] at the Yale Child Study Center offers guidance for educators as they help their students process news and information about war and terrorism.
Remember
September 11 [49]
The National Education Association has launched
a complete resource site for educators to use in
the respectful commemoration of September 11 with
more than 100 lesson plans and over 60 links to
support materials, resources and information.
9-11 as
History [50]
Family and Work Institute has put together lesson
plans and other items available on a new website
to help adults help children remember and mark September
11 this year.
Helping
Educators Address the Aftermath of 9/11 [51]
Educators for Social Responsibility has more than
50 free lesson plans customized to help educators
and students discuss, analyze and respond to the
events of the past year, as well as a range of divergent
points of view; a guide for talking to children
about violence and other sensitive and complex issues,
a follow-up guide on responding to violent events
by building community, and a special newsletter
dedicated to the crisis.
National
Council for the Social Studies [52]
The National Council for the Social Studies provides
articles and resources designed to create a forum
for issues regarding the teaching of social studies
relating to September 11.
PBS
Plans [53]
PBS has a variety of lesson plans: "A World
at Peace" for elementary grades, and "Tolerance"
and "Emergency Preparedness" for older
students.
Voices
from the Classroom [54]
Youth Communication has posted its stories on tolerance,
stereotyping, war, loss and friendship, each followed
by several questions to spark discussion and reflection
on those themes.
http://www.connectforkids.org/node/392
Links:
[1] http://www.connectforkids.org/node/392/print#Helping
[2] http://www.connectforkids.org/node/392/print#General
[3] http://www.connectforkids.org/node/392/print#Age
[4] http://www.connectforkids.org/node/392/print#Loss
[5] http://www.connectforkids.org/node/392/print#Adults
[6] http://www.connectforkids.org/node/392/print#Anti
[7] http://www.connectforkids.org/node/392/print#Plans
[8] http://www.bt.cdc.gov/children/recommend.asp
[9] http://www.nccev.org/docs/children_war.pdf
[10] http://www.nccev.org
[11] http://www.connectforkids.org/node/307
[12] http://www.aap.org/terrorism/index.html
[13] http://www.talkingwithkids.org/
[14] http://www.aacap.org/publications/factsfam/disaster.htm
[15] http://www.ces.purdue.edu/terrorism/
[16] http://www.esrnational.org/otc/view_lessons.php?action=fetch&id=133
[17] http://www.aboutourkids.org/articles/talking_kids_about_terrorism_or_acts_war
[18] http://www.apa.org/practice/ptguidelines.html
[19] http://www.guidancechannel.com/talkingterrorism.pdf
[20] http://www.guidancechannel.com/static.asp?index=33
[21] http://www.civitas.org/trauma.html
[22] http://www.connectforkids.org/node/392/print#Aftershocks
[23] http://www.pbs.org/parents/issuesadvice/talkingwithkids/war/insights.html
[24] http://www.parentsasteachers.org/atf/cf/%7B00812ECA-A71B-4C2C-8FF3-8F16A5742EEA%7D/HelpingKidsWithTrauma1.pdf
[25] http://www.ldonline.org/ld_indepth/parenting/coping.html
[26] http://www.nick.com/all_nick/everything_nick/kaiser/violence.html
[27] http://www.sesameworkshop.org/parents/advice/article.php?contentId=49560
[28] http://www.connectforkids.org/node/392/print#Aftershocks
[29] http://www.hospicenet.org/html/talking.html
[30] http://www.aacap.org/publications/factsfam/grief.htm
[31] http://pbskids.org/rogers/parentsteachers/special/scarynews.html
[32] http://www.aboutourkids.org/families/clinical_services/trauma_bereavement_service
[33] http://www.aboutourkids.org
[34] http://www.mercycorps.org/topics/children/1274
[35] http://www.connectforkids.org/node/392/print#Aftershocks
[36] http://www.aap.org/family/frk/frkit.htm
[37] http://www.nea.org/crisis/
[38] http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/anthraxqa.htm
[39] http://www.connectforkids.org/node/392/print#Aftershocks
[40] http://www.tolerance.org
[41] http://www.aboutourkids.org/articles/when_hurt_leads_hatepreventing_your_child039s_feelings_anger_leading_actions_bias_hate
[42] http://www.cair-net.org/ireport/
[43] http://www.adc.org
[44] http://www.adc.org/education/advice.htm
[45] http://www.adc.org/index.php?id=329
[46] http://www.connectforkids.org/node/392/print#Aftershocks
[47] http://www.nccev.org/docs/children_war.pdf
[48] http://www.nccev.org
[49] http://www.pbs.org/americaresponds/educators.html
[50] http://www.familiesandwork.org/911ah/911ashistory.html
[51] http://www.esrnational.org/
[52] http://www.socialstudies.org/resources/moments/
[53] http://www.pbs.org/americaresponds/educators.html
[54] http://www.youthcomm.org/NYC%20Features/WTC/WTC-index.htm
[55] http://www.connectforkids.org/node/392/print#Aftershocks