What Do We Tell The Children?

I'm sure many of you were feeling as bewildered as I was regarding the act of terrorism on the United States, on September the 11th 2001. Shock, disbelief, and sadness that something so evil happened anywhere, let alone in America.

Many people following the tragedy felt like going to their children's school, taking them home and holding them tight. An understandable reaction. But how do we explain this world to little ones?

I think what is beginning to become evident out of this tragedy, is not a world full of Hate, but a world where there is a lot of Love. The ones who Hate are in the minority. This is what we need to focus on. That awful day sent shock waves across the world. Here in the United Kingdom we felt wounded too, America is one of our best friends. A good friend we trust, who has not only been generous to us, but to other countries too.

People's spirits will not be crushed, instead of dividing us, we are being brought together. Of course, there are some individuals who are taking their anger out on other cultures, Moslems or anyone else who they think are the wrong skin colour. We need to explain to our children that this is not the right way to go about doing things.

Even quite young children will have concerns right now. The best thing is to explain things in simple terms to them. What happened on that day is an extremely rare occurence, and that it was down to some very bad people. Most people are not like that. Most want to do good. An example of this is how Americans are pulling together right now to help one another, by donating blood, money, essential supplies and helping in the rescue. Other countries are helping too: sending aid, and giving their support to America and it's people. America will rebuild itself. It is far better to offer a simple explanation to children than them not knowing anything at all.

Let them talk freely, expressing their emotions.

It's also important that things carry on as normally as possible. Keeping to routines, so that children feel safe and secure.

What has happened that day will trigger off memories of other disasters and sad events in our lives:

When I was 5 years old in 1966, there was a terrible disaster in a school just a few miles from where I was living, in Aberfan South Wales. It became known as "The Aberfan Disaster". Children were sitting at their desks in Pantglas School early in the morning on October the 21st. Just as people were sitting at their desks about to start work at the World Trading Center, New York. A large waste tip (deposited from the coal mines) started to move, quickly engulfing the little village school down below. A hundred and forty four people perished. Most of them children, the rest were the teachers and villagers.

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