5 Tips For Talking To Your Children About What They See In The News

Mommy (Daddy), Why do those people want to hurtdeclaring their solidarity in the War On Terror last
everyone?Last week, the world was shaken byweek, many children's anxieties and fears were being
another terrorist attack. Hot on the heels of the Liveoverlooked.In our efforts to protect our children and
8 benefits and in the middle of the G8 Summit,preserve the innocence of childhood as long as
bombs exploded in London. Adults around the globepossible, we attempt to shield them from the
were glued to CNN and spent time discussing theiratrocities that occur in today's turbulent times. When
feelings about the event around the water cooler atevents such as the bombs in London, the events at
work, with their partners at home or in onlinethe elementary school in Belsan, Russia in September,
discussion groups and e-mails. Collectively, we2004 and the September 11th attacks on the World
reached out and were comforted and reassured byTrade Center occur, our natural instinct is to not
the words of Prime Minister Tony Blair and otherdiscuss the events of the day with our children. Yet,
world leaders.Many adults, however, do not realizeas news of terrorist attacks or other tragedies
how many kids are exposed to the same news.surround them, your children may be feeling
Older children may read the newspaper or watch thefrightened, anxious, sad and confused.As a parent,
news on TV. Others may be exposed to "breakingonly you can decide what news is appropriate for
news" during an interruption in their favorite cartoonyour children but do not assume that your child does
t.v. program and still others can easily stumble acrossnot have an awareness of the tragic events that
the information online via MSN, Yahoo, Google or anyhave a global impact.
of the other online portals. While adults were