A Brave New World
(Talking With Your Child About Recent Terrorist Activities)

1. Know your child. If your child is often anxious or worried you should limit television, radio, and exposure to adult conversation about the recent events.
   If your child is curious continue to answer questions as he asks them.
   
2. Know that children understand things at their age appropriate level. At some
   ages that will mean very concrete and literal interpretation of what they hear. At a much later stage (pre-adolescents or so) they can understand more gray and figurative explanations.
   
3. Ask your child what she has heard about the events.
   
4. Ask your child how that makes him feel.
   
5. Let your child know that she is safe. Especially let her know that her home is safe, her school is safe, and her mommy and daddy are safe.
   
6. Ask your children open ended questions. Questions that cannot be answered “yes” or “no”, i.e., What do you think of that?, What do you think we should do?, What would you do if you were president?, etc…
   
7. Play a game or do some kind of activity that might allow some time for your child to ask you a question that is bothering her deep down inside. Children often need a long period of attention before they have the courage to admit to what is bothering them.
   
8. Model courage, faith, joy, and appropriate grief. Children watch you and sense what your feeling more than they hear your words.
9. Play with your children, read with your children, enjoy your family. While it has always been said that the best way to defeat terrorist is to go out and conduct business as usual. On September 11 I cancelled all my appointments and went home with my family and had a family day. This was not out of fear, this was out of what I hope will become a stronger American value and that is putting a higher priority on your family.
   
10. Actively demonstrate your faith and talk with your child about how you feel God
    is involved in this situation. One way to do this is to pray out loud with your child so your child hears how you relate to God in a time of crisis.