After September 11, 2001: Talking About Terrorism With Children

Not too long ago, when our TV screens were filled with images of Saddam Hussein and missiles, Your Child magazine, Vol. 23, #3 featured an article "A Sense of Security," for parents of young children by Jane Geller Epstein. In it she asks, "where has all of this left our children?" It seems we all, adults and children, tend to hide some of our fears and concerns. "Some of us show our tension thorough the words we use, in our faces and in our emotions. Not verbalizing our fears, does not mean that we are not worried. We may go about our daily routine until something triggers a reaction."

"Young children are concrete thinkers. They think in terms of "me," "now," "here," and "always." They are, generally, also very trusting, most of all of those who provide them with food, love and shelter. In times of stress, loss or disruption, a young child needs reassurance that the dependable adults in their lives will be there to care for, provide for, and be with them."

"Reassurance, love and words of caring are the best way to begin to give our children a sense of security, thereby alleviating some of their fears - for the present. Obviously, we can never know everything that happens in the mind of a child. Old fears are replaced by new ones. Immature concerns are replaced by other anxieties brought on by growing up. Just being there as parents willing to talk, listen and show support, by kissing away the tears and fears is often the best we can do in a complex world."

America United

While dealing with their own shock and grief, the nation's educators are working with children to come to grips with the terrorist attacks on the United States and to regain stability.

There is a plethora of information available which will provide assistance to our Solomon Schechter Day Schools. We list links to some of those websites and encourage you to review them:

• National Education Association (NEA) - In addition to eleven links at that site, there is a piece on Managing Stress Reactions.
• National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) - There is a piece on helping children cope with tragic loss.
• Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS) - There are links to resources for schools and families and the availability of grants for teachers to develop curriculum, modules or activities to promote knowledge and understanding about religious diversity.
• Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) - Click on "Resources for Helping Children."
• The International Society for Mental Health Online (ISMHO) - This site provides articles from a number of mental health specialists.