Helping Children Deal
With Scary News

The September 11th, 2001 attacks on America have shaken families across the nation and around the world.  As we struggle to understand these events it is important to remember our children.  This special section is to help parents learn how to talk to their kids about these events, and look towards the future.  This page will continue to be updated so check back at a later time for more information.

Helping Children Deal With Scary News--Thoughts from Fred Rogers

With the terrorist events in the news, we've been thinking about our neighbors, and we wanted to share with you some things that Fred Rogers has offered families and caregivers at similar times. We hope these comments will be helpful for you. Like you, all of us here at Family Communications, Inc. are grieving for those whose lives have been tragically affected.

http://pbskids.org/rogers/parents/sept11.htm

Judith Myers-Walls, a Purdue University Extension specialist in child development and family studies, has researched children's reactions to wars and disasters and offers advice for parents and others on how to help children cope with the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Centers and Pentagon.  There are broadcast-quality sound bytes along with an updated handout and other links. 

http://www.ces.purdue.edu/terrorism/children/index.html  

Recognizing Stress in Children, PrepareRespondRecover.com with Children's Needs section developed in collaboration with Dr. Karen DeBord, Extension Specialist, North Carolina State University.  Materials have been approved for posting on a web site regarding the September 11th, 2001 Disaster and they opened their site to the public.

http://www.preparerespondrecover.com/childrensneeds/  

Tragic Times, Healing Words from Sesame Street Parents

http://www.sesameworkshop.org/parents/advice/article/
0,4125,49560,00.html

Talking to Kids About War

AboutOurKids.org

New York University Child Study Center

http://www.aboutourkids.org/articles/war.html  

Talking About Conflict and War

The Learning Network

http://www.familyeducation.com/article/0,1120,20-6055,00.html 

Talking with Children about War - Pointers for Parents/The Learning Network

http://www.familyeducation.com/article/0,1120,1-4412,00.html 

Talking with Kids about the News/Children Now

http://www.childrennow.org/television/twk-news.htm  

How to talk to your kids about September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks-The Parent Center

http://www.parentcenter.com/general/34754.html  

American Academy of Pediatrics Offers Advice on Communicating with Children About Disasters

www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/disastercomm.htm

American Psychological Association

http://www.apahelpcenter.org/articles/topic.php?id=4

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry-Child Depression Awareness

http://www.aacap.org/  

For more information on helping victims of the U.S. attacks,

visit:

http://helping.org/promos/cs_wtc.adp  

The United Way of New York and the New York Community Trust have established a fund to help the victims of the attacks and their families.  The September Eleventh Fund will provide immediate support to established emergency assistance agencies. Anyone wishing to contribute may send their donations in care of:
United Way, 2 Park Ave, New York, NY, 10016
or call 212-251-4035.

Donations are also being accepted on United Way of New York City's Web site:

http://www.uwnyc.org

Updated:  April 01, 2008