Published: April 7, 2003
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.
- Kids in Tense Times [1]
- Helping Kids Cope With Trauma [2]
- Guidance for Adults [6]
- Anti-Discrimination Resources [7]
- Lesson Plans for Teachers [8]
Helping Children in Times of Terrorism [9]
"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.
Helping our Children Deal with Shocking Events [10]
The Parents Leadership Institute fosters close, responsive relationships between parents and children. This article guides parents through a thoughtful process of engaging their children in discussions during tense times.
Children and the News: Coping with Terrorism, War and Everyday Violence [11]
The Kaiser Family Foundation publishes a series of fact sheets on topics related to children. This one presents the most relevant research on the impact of news on children in times of war.
Parents' Guide to Talking with Their Children About War [12]
The National Center for Children Exposed to Violence (NCCEV) at the Yale Child Study Center offers guidance for parents as they help their children process news and information about war and terrorism.
Drop Dad a Line! [13]
The National Fatherhood Initiative (NFI), one of National PTA's partner organizations, has launched its "Drop Dad a Line" Web page for the children of deployed military fathers. "Drop Dad a Line" was designed to give children an outlet to post and send messages of love and support to their fathers.
Fostering Global Citizenship at Home and at School [14]
National PTA offers this article by Mary-Lou Breitborde which suggests ways for adults to
educate their children on global issues.
Supporting
Our Children [15]
by Susan Phillips and Jan Richter
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.
Helping Children
Cope with Disaster [16]
When no other words come to mind, a hug and saying,
"This is really hard for us," will work,
advises the National Mental Health and Education
Center. This handout for parents describes common
reactions by age group and ways to help children
and teens, as adults struggle themselves to make
sense and feel in control.
Children, Terrorism and Disasters [17]
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.
Helping Children
Cope with Trauma [18]
The American Counseling Association has compiled
a list of ways parents and adults can help young
children deal with trauma.
Talking
with Kids about Tough Issues [19]
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
and Adolescents Cope with Violence and Disasters [20]
Helping young people avoid or overcome emotional
problems in the wake of violence or disaster is
one of the most important challenges a parent, teacher,
or mental health professional can face.
Talking with
Kids about the News [21]
Graphic footage and accounts of the latest events
are being delivered right into our homes 24 hours
a day. This constant barrage can be overwhelming
for adults, but it can be especially confusing and
frightening for young children.
Helping
Children After a Disaster [22]
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, tornados, floods, fires
and violent acts.
Parenting in the
Wake of Terrorism [23]
The Purdue University Extension offers advice to
help families as we approach the one year anniversary
of the September 11th terrorist attacks.
Talking
to Children About Violence and Other Sensitive and
Complex Issues [24]
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.
Coping With a National
Tragedy [25]
The National Association of School Psychologists
has provided parents and teachers with a variety
of resources, including how to identify anxious
children and how to talk to them, links and articles
available in English, Spanish, Urdu, Korean, Arabic,
Farsi, Vietnamese and Turkish.
Helping Children
Handle Disaster-Related Anxiety [26]
The National Mental Health Association reminds
us that each child responds differently to disasters,
depending on his or her understanding and maturity.
The National Mental Health Association (800-969-6642)
can provide you with information about your local
mental health association or local American Red
Cross chapter.
Talking to Kids about
Terrorism or Acts of War [27]
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 [28]
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? [29]
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 [30].
How Does Trauma Impact Learning? [31]
Civitas offers insights into how to recognize the signs of trauma in children.
Age by Age Insights [33]
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.
Talking with Kids About the News [34]
Children Now believes that the constant barrage of news and information can be overwhelming for adults, but especially confusing and frightening for young children. Here are 10 tips to help parents understand how children process what they see and hear differently, depending on their age.
Helping Families Cope with War and Trauma [35]
The Parents as Teachers National Center offers tips for parents of young children.
Zero to
Three: How to Discuss Terrorism with Young Children [36]
In response to the tragic events on September 11,
2001, Zero to Three [37] has ideas in
addressing death and terrorism with toddlers.
Helping
Kids With Special Needs [38]
Children with a learning disability or ADHD may
feel especially vulnerable in the wake of this tragedy.
LDOnline has guidelines for age-appropriate help.
Reactions to
Trauma: Suggestions for Teens [39]
The National Mental Health and Education Center
has brief information for teens on normal reactions
to trauma, and how they can help themselves.
Nickelodeon
Parent Talk: Violence [40]
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 [41]
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 [43]
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 [44]
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 [45]
Words of advice from Mr. Rogers: help children
feel secure, limit TV and listen.
All
Kids Grieve [46]
All kids experience loss. The key is to help them
channel their grief into personal growth, not violence
or destructive behavior. AllKidsGrieve.org offers
books, classroom strategies and information on how
to start support groups for kids.
Resources
for Helping Children Cope with Trauma and Loss [47]
AboutOurKids.org [48]
provides information and offers advice for parents,
educators, and mental health and medical professions
to help children cope with the September 11th attack.
Coping
With Terrorism [51]
The American Psychological Association's Help Center [52] has online resources
to help adults manage traumatic stress, with specific
sections on family.
Finding
Ways to Help Yourself [53]
It's hard to help children with their feelings when
adults themselves are feeling stunned, confused
or anxious. Arizona State University has some good
advice for adults.
Coping
With Disaster: Tips for Adults [54]
The National Mental Health Association offers resources
for adults on how to handle disaster-related anxiety,
as well a section that helps adults talk to children
about their own anxiety.
Preparing
to Handle Disaster [55]
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 [56]
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.
Common Sense on Biological and Chemical Hazards [57]
Get the facts in this article on the actualities of biological and chemical warfare from SFC Red Thomas, a retired armor master gunner from Mesa, Arizona.
Q
& A on Anthrax [58]
Having good information is one of the best ways
to protect your family against bioterrorism. The
American Academy of Pediatrics offers guidelines.
Teaching
Tolerance [60]
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.
Promoting
Tolerance and Peace in Children: Tips for Parents
and Schools [61]
While anger is a normal response felt by many, we
must ensure that we do not compound an already great
tragedy and react against innocent individuals with
vengeance and intolerance, says the National Association
of School Psychologists. Find key messages for adults
to help children, and themselves.
When
Hurt Leads to Hate [62]
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 [63]
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.
Help against
Hatred [64]
Along with advice for parents on talking with children,
the National PTA has posted information on talking
with children about hatred and prejudice, in both
English and Spanish.
Arab American Anti-discrimination
Committee [65]
"Advice
to Educators" [66] 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" [67]
details a step-by-step course of action.
Helping Children Cope: Tips for School Personnel [69]
The National Emergency Assistance Team of the National Association of School Psychologists present sound strategies for supporting children and young people during troubling times.
Parents' Guide to Talking with Their Children About War [70]
The National Center for Children Exposed to Violence (NCCEV) at the Yale Child Study Center offers guidance for educators as they help their students process news and information about war and terrorism.
Coping in Unsettling Times [71]
The National Association of School Psychologists has materials and tips for helping children to cope in unsettling times.
Discussing the
News with 3- to 7-Year-Olds: What to Do? [72]
In times of great distress, young children need
to hear that "your grownups at home and your
grownups at school know how to take care of you."
Here are specific classroom suggestions from the
National Association for the Education of Young
Children.
Remember
September 11 [73]
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 [74]
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 [75]
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 Articles and Resources [76]
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.
The
September 11 Anniversary: An Opportunity for Social
and Emotional Learning [77]
The Center for Social and Emotional Education offers
guidelines for parents, teachers and educational
administrators as well as listings of resources,
lesson plans and other information. This feature
grows out of work with the New York City Board of
Education, the U.S. Department of Education and
a collaborative with the National Center for Children
Exposed to Violence.
PBS
Plans [78]
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 [79]
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/455
Links:
[1] http://216.198.222.116/tenseTimes/KidsInTenseTimes.htm
[2] http://www.connectforkids.org/node/455/print#Helping
[3] http://www.connectforkids.org/node/455/print#General
[4] http://www.connectforkids.org/node/455/print#Age
[5] http://www.connectforkids.org/node/455/print#Loss
[6] http://www.connectforkids.org/node/455/print#Adults
[7] http://www.connectforkids.org/node/455/print#Anti
[8] http://www.connectforkids.org/node/455/print#Plans
[9] http://www.bt.cdc.gov/children/recommend.asp
[10] http://www.parentleaders.org/articles/helping-our-children-deal-with-shocking-events.html
[11] http://www.kff.org/content/2003/3210/
[12] http://www.nccev.org/
[13] http://www.fatherhood.org/drop-dad-a-line.asp
[14] http://www.pta.org/parentinvolvement/parenttalk/pt_global.asp
[15] http://www.connectforkids.org/benton_topics1544/benton_topics_show.htm?doc_id=81738
[16] http://www.naspcenter.org/safe_schools/coping.html
[17] http://www.aap.org/terrorism/index.html
[18] http://www.counseling.org/consumers/children.htm
[19] http://www.talkingwithkids.org/
[20] http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/violence.cfm
[21] http://www.childrennow.org/television/twk-news.htm
[22] http://www.aacap.org/publications/factsfam/disaster.htm
[23] http://www.ces.purdue.edu/terrorism/
[24] http://www.esrnational.org/guide.htm
[25] http://www.nasponline.org/NEAT/crisis_0911.html
[26] http://www.nmha.org/newsroom/terrorismtips.cfm
[27] http://www.aboutourkids.org/articles/war.html
[28] http://www.apa.org/practice/ptguidelines.html
[29] http://www.guidancechannel.com/talkingterrorism.pdf
[30] http://www.guidancechannel.com/static.asp?index=33
[31] http://www.civitas.org/trauma.html
[32] http://www.connectforkids.org/node/455/print#Aftershocks
[33] http://www.pbs.org/parents/issuesadvice/talkingwithkids/war/insights.html
[34] http://www.childrennow.org/television/twk-news.htm
[35] http://patnc.org/forparents-parentspage.asp#trauma
[36] http://www.zerotothree.org/coping/LittleListeners.html
[37] http://www.zerotothree.org/
[38] http://www.ldonline.org/ld_indepth/parenting/coping.html
[39] http://www.naspcenter.org/safe_schools/trauma.html
[40] http://www.nick.com/all_nick/everything_nick/kaiser/violence.html
[41] http://www.sesameworkshop.org/parents/advice/article.php?contentId=49560
[42] http://www.connectforkids.org/node/455/print#Aftershocks
[43] http://www.hospicenet.org/html/talking.html
[44] http://www.aacap.org/publications/factsfam/grief.htm
[45] http://pbskids.org/rogers/
[46] http://www.allkidsgrieve.org/
[47] http://www.aboutourkids.org/articles/crisis_index.html
[48] http://www.aboutourkids.org
[49] http://www.mercycorps.org/application/1030550964.pdf
[50] http://www.connectforkids.org/node/455/print#Aftershocks
[51] http://helping.apa.org/daily/terrorism.html
[52] http://helping.apa.org/index.html
[53] http://www.asu.edu/provost/intergroup/resources/tragedies.html#anchor187218
[54] http://www.nmha.org/reassurance/adulttips.cfm
[55] http://www.aap.org/family/frk/frkit.htm
[56] http://www.nea.org/crisis/
[57] http://www.connectforkids.org/resources3139/resources_show.htm?doc_id=156630
[58] http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/anthraxqa.htm
[59] http://www.connectforkids.org/node/455/print#Aftershocks
[60] http://www.tolerance.org
[61] http://www.nasponline.org/NEAT/tolerance.html
[62] http://www.aboutourkids.org/articles/hate.html
[63] http://www.cair-net.org/ireport/
[64] http://www.pta.org/parentinvolvement/tragedy/index.asp
[65] http://www.adc.org
[66] http://www.adc.org/education/advice.htm
[67] http://www.adc.org/index.php?id=329
[68] http://www.connectforkids.org/node/455/print#Aftershocks
[69] http://www.guidancechannel.com/channel_detail.asp?index=1064&cat=13
[70] http://www.nccev.org/
[71] http://www.nasponline.org/NEAT/unsettlingtimes.html
[72] http://www.naeyc.org/resources/eyly/1998/22.htm
[73] http://www.pbs.org/americaresponds/educators.html
[74] http://www.911AsHistory.org
[75] http://www.esrnational.org/
[76] http://www.socialstudies.org/resources/moments/
[77] http://www.csee.net/SEL_Home_school/sept11.asp
[78] http://www.pbs.org/americaresponds/educators.html
[79] http://www.youthcomm.org/NYC%20Features/WTC/WTC-index.htm
[80] http://www.connectforkids.org/node/455/print#Aftershocks