Journal article:
Talking
to Children About Terrorism and Armed Conflict
Multimedia:
Talking with children about terrorism
(audio)
Helping children
cope (audio and video)
Judith Myers-Walls
(photo,956kb)
Purdue experts:
Terrorism
Experts
Purdue Extension publications:
Helping Children Cope with
Stress
Other resources for dealing with child stress
Preschool
and grade school: Understanding Children's Fears
Recognizing
Stress in Children
Strategies
for Parents and Teachers
Helping
Children Cope with Disaster
Please feel free to link to, print off, redistribute or reprint any
of these materials as long as the original credits remain intact.
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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 helping
children cope with the terrorist attacks, and their aftermath. |
September 2003
 
When War Is in the News
By Judith A. Myers-Walls
Human Development Specialist
Purdue Extension
The United
States is in a very long period of conflict as it attempts to fight the
war on terrorism. Many troops have been deployed, and new men and women
are sent overseas as others return. Government officials have spoken frequently
about the need for military actions. The president has described some
of the evil actions of the countries with which we have concerns.
Children
probably do not understand the politics of this situation. For many, especially
the youngest children, war is a distant event, and they do not pay attention
to it. But many others are likely to be confused. They see parents being
deployed and leaving their children behind. Seeing children in the news
attracts other children’s attention. They may wonder if their own
parents will be called to go away. As they hear about deaths of soldiers
they may become especially worried. Older children may be confused when
they hear differing opinions and recommendations. Many words are being
used that are not familiar to children.
Some parents are being deployed
For children whose parents are being deployed, there are special pressures.
They need to deal with secrecy, uncertainty, separation, and major changes
in their lifestyle. They will not know where the family member is going
or when or even if he or she will return. The remaining parent needs to
take on different roles. If both parents are in the military, the children
may need to adjust to living with other relatives or substitute parents.
They need to adjust again when the deployed family member returns home.
When
reservists are deployed, it is likely that they will not find themselves
in the midst of a community that understands and provides supports for
them. They may need to work harder to find help than personnel on bases
or in military communities. It may be especially difficult for children
who do not have any friends facing the same pressures.
Children
may be confused
Most children are likely to be confused by the current events. Their confusion
may vary depending on their age. Younger children will hear a number of
unfamiliar words and may not understand what they mean. Many children
may confuse Afghanistan, Iraq, and Iran. They may confuse Osama bin Laden
with Sadaam Hussein and other leaders. They also may have a hard time
understanding why people are still dying if the war was said to be over.
There
are good reasons for children’s confusion; many adults are confused
as well. Children, especially younger ones, also confuse fantasy with
reality and historic events and figures with current ones. They may connect
unrelated current events, such as assuming that the Columbia shuttle disaster
or the Northeast blackout was related to the conflict with Iraq. They
may be more sensitized to war and violence in general after the events
of Sept. 11, 2001.
War
may be a new topic for parents
Most parents do not include war in their daily conversations with children.
Some never talk about it. Researchers at Purdue University conducted interviews
with children and parents beginning several months after the Sept. 11
attacks. Almost 25 percent of parents reported that they never talked
to their children about war. Over 40 percent of children reported that
they hadn’t had such conversations with their parents. This means
that some parents thought they talked about it, but the children either
didn’t remember or didn’t recognize the topic. So some parents
may need to discuss this topic with their children for the first time,
and others may need to repeat some things they have said before.
Full
Story ->
Sources
of information for military families facing deployment:
http://fcs.tamu.edu/military/military.htm
http://www.read2kids.org/uniting.htm
http://www.redcross.org/services/afes/0,1082,0_482_,00.html
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