Children and the Anniversary of 9-11
Some tips that may help your child or classroom cope with the 9-11 anniversary
Be prepared around the anniversary. Children may be emotionally affected.
Answer questions about the event honestly, but do not dwell on the details or allow the events of 9-11 to dominate conversations and classroom time indefinitely. Allow children and students to express themselves through conversation and writing. Acknowledge that school performance may be affected and consider modifying lesson plans.
Remember that in order to help your child, it is important that you take care of yourself. Make sure that you are taking the time to deal with your own stress and reactions to this disaster. You do not have to “fix” how your child feels.
In addition to the suggestions above, the following tips can help parents; teachers and school administrators address the needs of the school community.
Tips for Talking to Children and Youth about the Anniversary of 9-11
- Enable children and youth to stick to a routine during this time and encourage physical activity to relieve any stress.
- Make time for them to talk about what they are seeing on television and to ask questions
- Do not be afraid to admit that you cannot answer all of their questions
- Answer questions at a level they can understand
- Discuss what they can realistically do to help; almost everyone finds comfort and empowerment in being part of the solution to a shared problem. There are many programs to honor those lost and many opportunities for volunteering on the anniversary of 9-11. Look for volunteer locally or visit http://911dayofservice.org/ to find specific volunteer opportunities related to 9-11.
- Monitor television watching. Some parents or caregivers may wish to limit exposure to ongoing media coverage of the 9-11 anniversary. To the extent possible, adults should be present when their child is watching news coverage of the event. It is at these times that questions might arise.
- Help children understand that there are no bad emotions and that a wide range of reactions is normal. Encourage children to express their feelings to adults (including teachers and parents) who can help them understand their feelings and emotions.
- For the full-length brochure, download it here: Tips for Talking to Children
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