Kids And Disasters

[Yvonne Belisle]

Kids And Disasters
If you've wondered about the best way to talk to children about the recent terrorist attacks in the United States, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers this advice: Provide understandable information and realistic reassurance. Don't overwhelm children with details -- "less is better than more."

Holly Harrington, the FEMA for Kids manager, says, "Parents can help children by keeping them close and even spoiling them for a little while. We also advise that children not be overexposed to the news coverage of the terrorist events."

For examples of behavior children might exhibit following a disaster, and what to do about it, go to http://www.fema.gov/nwz01/nwz01_99.htm to read "FEMA Offers Advice On How To Talk To Children About Terrorist Attacks."

[GoddessofWisdom]

My daughter asked me what war was after hearing her teachers talking about it today;


My answer was this



America got a BIG boo-boo and now they are going to fix it

It seemed to work

[MammaStar]

I think that was a great answer.

My son knows a lot of what's going on. Actually just the highlites. Meaning, i let him watch the pictures the day it happened ONCE and only once. I kept him on his regular routine, which I think was harder for me than for him. I always answer his questions, & I limit even more what he listens to & what he sees on the TV now. Now, I am so far from perfect as a Mom, believe me, there have been slips. In fact about 20 min. ago, Eshallet started to talk about all the bombings in front of him & I had to give Eshallet a look to hush. Again, my son knows about the bombings, he's actually pretty psyched about them. He's mad & upset & told me he doesn't like anyone messing with his country & we should be there.

Whether it's right or not, it's his 9 year old opinion. I'm glad he's talking about it and even more glad he feels comfortable talking to me or Eshallet about these things.

[mol]

Its really wild. My son is totally oblivious. He just runs around and doesnt even know that history is being made that he will learn about in high school.

I dunno. I dont feel any pressure to tell him or ask him if knows what this is all about. Im just going to let him be a kid. Terrorists are not going to rob him of that.

[GoddessofWisdom]

Originally posted by mol
Its really wild. My son is totally oblivious. He just runs around and doesnt even know that history is being made that he will learn about in high school.

I dunno. I dont feel any pressure to tell him or ask him if knows what this is all about. Im just going to let him be a kid. Terrorists are not going to rob him of that.

That's great. I wasn't planing on telling Morgaine anything either. I went in and really tore into the teachers for talking about what is going on during school hours. They, of all people, should understand that children are always listening and are extremely impressionable.

[Yvonne Belisle]

My children just went through a bomb threat in thier district so yesterday all the schools here had the kids out on the lawns till the schools were deemed safe to go back to. Sometimes they need to know the answers to "WHY?" I just wish I had them.

[Swanspirit]

I was afraid they were going to go into all this whoosits whatsits for kids and complicate things but they kept it very simple...... direct and to the point......
but I still like the boo-boo idea better :>.......
Love and light
Swannie