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

The News

Copyright 2005 Dr. Charles Sophy

Keep 'Em Off My Couch

http://drsophy.com





Mommy (Daddy), Why do those people want to hurt everyone?

Last week, the world was shaken by another terrorist attack.

Hot on the heels of the Live 8 benefits and in the middle

of the G8 Summit, bombs exploded in London. Adults around

the globe were glued to CNN and spent time discussing their

feelings about the event around the water cooler at work,

with their partners at home or in online discussion groups

and e-mails. Collectively, we reached out and were

comforted and reassured by the words of Prime Minister Tony

Blair and other world leaders.



Many adults, however, do not realize how many kids are

exposed to the same news. Older children may read the

newspaper or watch the news on TV. Others may be exposed to

"breaking news" during an interruption in their favorite

cartoon t.v. program and still others can easily stumble

across the information online via MSN, Yahoo, Google or any

of the other online portals. While adults were declaring

their solidarity in the War On Terror last week, many

children's anxieties and fears were being overlooked.

In our efforts to protect our children and preserve the

innocence of childhood as long as possible, we attempt to

shield them from the atrocities that occur in today's

turbulent times. When events such as the bombs in London,

the events at the elementary school in Belsan, Russia in

September, 2004 and the September 11th attacks on the World

Trade Center occur, our natural instinct is to not discuss

the events of the day with our children. Yet, as news of

terrorist attacks or other tragedies surround them, your

children may be feeling frightened, anxious, sad and

confused.



As a parent, only you can decide what news is appropriate

for your children but do not assume that your child does not

have an awareness of the tragic events that have a global

impact. It's important to talk to your children about the

actions that shape our lives but the amount of information

you share with your child differs across age groups and even

from child to child.



The best way to make sure kids know they are safe, is to

talk with them about what they see and hear and give them a

chance to express their feelings.



Parents with children reacting to the news should:



• Know all the facts: Parents should help their children

cope with the attacks first by finding out how much they

know about what happened.



• Know yourself: Try to be aware of your own anxieties in

order to know your child's.



• Know your child: Children may not have the verbal capacity

to discuss their anxieties. Watch for new

behavioral/physical manifestations of their fears. For

example, your child may reveal his/her anxiety by not

wanting to separate to go to school or camp.



• Reduce media exposure: It's important to filter the

information that your child receives so that you can control

the intensity of the reaction, instill in your child your

sense of values and moral principles, and keep the lines of

communication open and let them ask questions.



• Build a plan: Children, no matter their age, are primarily

concerned with safety "Am I safe? Is my family safe?" To

allay their fears, work with your child to create a safety

plan.





Remember: World disasters are scary for adults and children

alike. Always reach for more assistance when unsure of your

next step.













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) 2005 Dr. Charles Sophy

Dr. Charles Sophy currently serves as Medical Director for

the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family

Services (DCFS), which is responsible for the health, safety

and welfare of nearly 40,000 foster children. He also has a

private psychiatry practice in Beverly Hills, California.

Dr. Sophy has lectured extensively and is an Associate

Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of

California Los Angeles Neuro-Psychiatric Institute. His

lectures and teachings are consistently ranked as among the

best by those in attendance.



Dr. Charles Sophy, author of the "Keep `Em Off My Couch"

blog, provides real simple answers for solving life's

biggest problems. He specializes in improving the mental

health of children. To contact Dr. Sophy, visit his blog at

http://drsophy.com.