TALKING TO KIDS ABOUT 9/11

via today.com

Any time we have to talk to kids about tragic events we walk the line of informing vs. freaking them out.   In today's world the regular news cycle displays an array of terrorism and tragedy.  And, when the questions come, it helps to have thought through how to approach it with our students.  

Simply, it boils down to three big questions.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Kids need to know what took place, and it needs to be approached in a way that is appropriate for their age.  Your approach with a 5 year old will be brief and simply stated.  A high school student might want to see a video and ask a variety of questions.  Regardless of the age, this is a time to be honest and address any misconceptions they might have in place.

AM I SAFE?

We all struggled with this question on 9/11 and continue to consider it as stories of terrorism flash across our screens.  In a child's mind this can be magnified.  Some reassurance from a trusted adult goes a long way.  While we can't make false promises that it will never happen again, you can tell them that we are working to make our country as safe as possible. 

WHAT CAN I DO?

Kids can feel empowered by responding in a positive way to a tragedy.  Look for opportunities that will help them make a difference in the world.  Websites such as911 day or the 9/11 Memorial Website can provide options.

This is the hard stuff that we wish we could avoid, but being a trusted voice of calm and reason in a world with lots of noise is powerful and appreciated.  Thanks for all you do teachers!