911MEMORIAL.ORG
Mural created by the Lower School Art Students of Porter Gaud School in Charleston, South Carolina in Laura Orvin’s Art Class for the people of New York. Gift of Lawrence Knafo.
TALKING TO YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT 9/11
Every year, the attacks of 9/11 recede further into the past. However, for those of us who lost someone close or otherwise experienced that day — whether in person or on television — thinking and talking about 9/11 may still evoke strong emotions that transport us back to the tragedy and can jar emotions long forgotten. Current events, such as the death of Osama bin Laden, can do the same. Many others will have little or no recollection of the event itself, understanding its details and ramifications through the lens of a somewhat impersonal history and through media coverage of the event. Between managing these difficult emotions and conveying the details of such a tragic event, discussing 9/11 isn’t an easy task. We often hear, “I want to tell my child what happened that day but don’t know where to begin.” The following tips, then, have been prepared to provide broad guidelines to help you in these conversations. Information about the 9/11 attacks and their aftermath can be found on our website: www.911memorial.org. For more in-depth resources for talking to your children, visit the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement at www.cincinnatichildrens.org/school-crisis or the National Association for School Psychologists at www.nasponline.org/resources/crisis_safety. Listen. Some children will want to talk about the attacks and some won’t. Both reactions are common. If they do want to talk, it’s important to offer children a safe space to share their memories, beliefs, and questions. Actively listen to their thoughts, attend to their body la ?wVvR?f?FFRF?V?"V??F???2??BV?6?W&vR&W7V7FgV?6??fW'6F????BF?67W76???2??bF?W?F??( ?BfVV???RF???r?F??( ?Bf?&6RF?RF?67W76???2?6??F??VRF?6?V6????B?WBF?V????r??R&R&VG?F??7FV?v?V?WfW"F?W?( ?&R&VG?F?F??F??( ?Bf??BF?ff?7V?B6??fW'6F???2?&V?G2?B6&Vv?fW'2V?FW'7F?F&?F??( ?Bv?BF?6W6R?WG??BF?7G&W72??F?V?"6???G&V??F??2?gFV?&W7V?G2??6????rv?g&??F?ff?7V?B6??fW'6F???2F?BvR&W7V?Rv???&?f??RF?W6RV??F???2??B?2F?RGF6?2F?V?6V?fW2?F??Vv??F?B&RW6WGF??r???BF?R6??fW'6F???2&?WBF?V????f?FRF?R6??fW'6F???v?F??V??V?FVBVW7F???27V6?3?( ?v?Bv?V?B??R??RF????r&?WB???( ??"( ?v??F???RF????vR&R&V?V?&W&??rF?R???fW'6'??b???( ??WBF?R6???N( ?2??FW&W7G2?BF??Vv?G2wV?FRF?R6??fW'6F????W6RvR?&?&?FR??wVvR?B&Rv&R?b??W"F??R?&V77W&??r6???G&V?&?WBF?V?"?v?6fWG??B???v??rF?V?F?W?&W726??6W&?2&?WB???B?G2gFW&?F?????&RFWF???7vW"VW7F???2&?WBF?RGF6?2v?F?f7G2?2F?R?V'2?fR76VB6??6R????W"6???V7F?fR?V??'??26??v??&FV?VB??F???7F?'??F??276vR?bF??R?V?2F?B??W"6???G&V??v?B?fR??F?&V7B?V??'??bF?RGF6?2?b???F?V?"V?FW'7F?F??r6??W2g&??F?R?&?B6?W&6W2&?V?BF?V?( BF?V?"f??W2?66????2?g&?V?G2??B?VF?( B?B2?2?gFV?F?R66Rv?F?6????f??6W2?F?W6R6?W&6W26?6??WF??W26??G&F?7BV6??F?W"??B?2???'F?B?F?V??F??7vW"6???G&V?( ?2VW7F???2&?WBv?B?V?VBv?F?&6?2f7G2?B???BF?V?F?&V?&?R6?W&6W2?b??f?&?F???f?"gW'F?W"&W6V&6??&R&W&VBf?"??W"6???BF?6?VW7F???2&?WBFVF?v?V?F?67W76??r????BF??7vW"F?W6RVW7F???2??v?F?B?2???W7B?BFWfV???V?F???&?&?FR?F?66W72F?R?Wr??&??f^( ?2W6VgV?w&?VbwV?FR?f?6?C?wwr??Ww??&??fR?6???f?V?FF????B6?6?( ?&W&VfV?V?B&W6?W&6W2?( ?6???v?VFvRF?BvRF??( ?B?fR??F?R?7vW'2??N( ?2??&?v?B??BF????rF?R?7vW"F?WfW'?VW7F???????2???7&VF?&?6???W?7V&?V7B?v?F?&WW&7W76???2F?B&R7F???Wf??f??rF?F???b??R6?( ?B?7vW"??W"6???N( ?2VW7F????&R???W7B?W6RF?R??'GV??G?F???FV???W'6V?b2?V&?W"??BW???&RF?RVW7F???F?vWF?W"? ???