Schools
OPINION: Talking To Your Children About 9/11
Parents must be prepared to answer questions honestly and offer reassurance.
Sunday marks the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. As Americans across the country witnessed hijacked planes crash into the Twin Towers, the Pentagon and the ground of Pennsylvania, life as we knew it was forever altered. Innocent bystanders became victims as America was stripped of the freedoms we had for so long taken for granted. Across the country people watched on television and listened on the radio, fear and sorrow filling hearts and souls to overflowing.
As we have become accustomed to the post 9/11 “new normal” and as we approach the tenth anniversary of the day that history was rewritten, it is easy to forget that America’s youngsters have forever lived in a post 9/11 world. They did not bear witness to the atrocities and horror, they do not know life free from threat levels and enhanced security, they do not know life without terrorism. What they do know, though, is what they see on television, on-line and in print.
With the 10th anniversary of September 11 just days away, our children are no doubt being saturated with visual, verbal and written recollections and ramifications of 9/11, terrorism and Osama bin Laden. Through the lens of others, children grapple with understanding this clearly horrific tragedy which evokes so much emotion.
Find out what's happening in Marlboroughfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
In order to help your children better understand the significance and magnitude of the events of September 11, it is important to sit down and talk with them about it.
- If your child shows an interest in talking about the attacks, make yourself available. Listen. Let him share his concerns, his questions and his fears. Keep the lines of communication open.
- Although parents are programmed to shield their children from pain and fear, do not shy away from the difficult questions. Use age-appropriate language to discuss the attacks, reassuring your child about his own safety. Be prepared to talk about death and mourning and be willing to offer honest, developmentally-appropriate answers.
- For children who were very young at the time of the attacks or were born in the days and years that followed, there are no direct memories of the day. Instead, details come from the media, family, school and friends. Likely, the stories will differ. It is up to the parent to offer the facts and to back those facts up with reliable sources.
- As in all conversations with children, honesty is crucial. This is not to say that full disclosure is necessary when age or emotional restrictions are in play. When discussing the attacks, be honest, not graphic. Simple and direct.
As Sunday approaches, parents would be wise to monitor their children’s exposure to the media. Seeing or hearing continual coverage about the attacks can cause children to feel afraid and insecure so parents must be prepared to talk and reassure.
