The world is a scary place these days. You wake up each morning not knowing if this will be the day a bomb will be dropped, or a plane will crash. War is imminent, and knowing that fact has set us all on edge.
Now put yourself in the place of a five year old. He hears mommy and daddy talking about stocking up on duct tape and bottled water. He sees the tv reports about bombs exploding and people dying. His friend's Daddy even died while he was working in a big building in New York City. But he doesn't know why this is all happening. He wants to know that he and his family will be safe. He wants to make sure his parents will be coming home from work every night. He wants to know why this guy Osama hates him so much.As a parent, you want to make your son feel secure and safe. You want him to be able to go out to play with his friends and go to school without worrying about war and death. In the same light, you also want to be able to answer his questions about the world's current events, without instilling more fear in him.
Below are some excellent sites that offer parents ideas and advice on how to talk to children about war, terrorism and violence, what to say and when to say it. Discussed also is age appropriateness, and how much information is too much.How to Talk to Children about the Threat of Biological Warfare or Terrorist Attack...from FEMA.
How to Talk to Your Children About War and Other Horrific Events...from Your Family's Health.
How To Talk To Your Children About War...from KUDL-FM.
Children and Fear of War and Terrorism Tips for Parents and Teachers...from National Association of School Psychologists.
Talking With Kids About War and Violence...from PBS.
Talking With Kids About Terrorism or Acts of War...from NYU Child Study Center.
Talking to Your Children About Armed Conflict...from North Dakota State University.
Terrorism and Children: When War Is in the News...from Purdue University.
Terrorist Threats and Looming War -- How Do We Help Our Kids?...from ParentSoup.
