Website Resources for Helping Children, Adolescents, Teens, and Adults
Cope During Times of Crisis


1.  Talking to Kids About War
AboutOurKids.org
New York University Child Study Center

2.  Talking About Conflict and War
The Learning Network

3.  Talking with Children about War - Pointers for Parents
The Learning Network

4.  Talking with Kids about the News
 Children Now 

5.  "Helping Children Cope with Violence,Terrorism, and Grief" on the
NCCIC Web site.  The information can be found at
.

6.  AAP Offers Advice on Communicating with Children about Disasters
 - How Pediatricians Can Respond
to the Psychosocial Implications of Disasters (AAP Policy statement)

7.  Psychosocial Issues for Children and Families in Disasters: A Guide
for the Primary Care Physician (Joint publication between AAP and US
Center for Mental Health Services)

8.  The Pediatrician's Role in
Disaster Preparedness (AAP policy statement)

9.  Child Deaths Hit
Communities Hard: Disasters Demand Psychological Triage (AAP

10.  
The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry has
suggestions for "Helping Children After a Disaster." 

11.  Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Violence and Disasters
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/violence.cfm

12.  Tragic Times, Healing Words Helping Your Children Cope with the
Latest Disasters by the Sesame Workshop http://www.sesameworkshop.org/

13.  Kids Com .Com Kids speak out!
http://www.kidscom.com/

14.  Talking with Kids about the News
http://www.childrennow.org/television/twk-news.htm

15.  National SAFE KIDS Campaign and Matchbox Partner to Celebrate
National 9-1-1 Day http://www.safekids.org/

16.  Talking with Kids About Tough Issues
http://www.talkingwithkids.org/

17.  Helping Your Kids Feel Safe 

18.  Nickelodeon Parent Talk Violence
http://www.nick.com/all_nick/everything_nick/kaiser/violence.html

19.  Response to Terrorism: Teacher Handout From American School
Counselor Association http://206.61.101.87/content.cfm?L1=1000&L2=48

20.  Helping Your Child Deal With the Terrorist Tragedy
http://kidshealth.org/breaking_news/tragedies.html

21.  Talking to Kids About War
http://www.aboutourkids.org/articles/war.html

22.  Help for Coping with the Attacks in the U.S.
http://www.aboutourkids.org/

23.  Connect for Kids
http://www.connectforkids.org/

24.  Coping After A Disaster http://family.go.com/raisingkids/

HELPING YOUNG CHILDREN
25.**For Very Young Children
Even babies and toddlers can experience anxiety. Zero to Three offers
some advice for protecting and reassuring very young children.
http://www.zerotothree.org/

26. **Helping Children Deal with Scary News
Words of advice from Mr. Rogers: help children feel secure, limit TV and
listen. http://pbskids.org/

27. **Helping Children Cope with Trauma
The American Counseling Association has compiled a list of ways parents
and adults can help young children deal with trauma.
http://www.counseling.org

HELPING OLDER CHILDREN
28. **Talking with Children: Tips for Parents
The National Association of School Psychologists offers tips for parents
not only in English, but also in Spanish, Arabic, Farsi, Korean, Urdu
and Vietnamese. http://www.nasponline.org/

29. **A Guide for Parents: Ten Tips for Talking with Children about
Terrorism It's not always what you say, but how you say it that matters
for young children. Here's help from the Ohio Commission on Dispute
Resolution and Conflict Management.
http://www.state.oh.us/cdr/schools/trauma/tentips.htm

30. **Helping Children Understand the Terrorist Attacks
The U.S. Department of Education explains how adults can talk with
children about the attacks, along with suggestions for educators and
links to additional helpful resources.
http://www.ed.gov/inits/september11/index.html

31. **What to Look For
UCLA's School Mental Health Project identifies common responses that
children often experience in the wake of overwhelming events: persistent
fears about being separated from their families, sleep disturbances,
loss of concentration and irritability, physical complaints, withdrawal
and listlessness.
 http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu

32. **Trauma and the Attacks in the United States
New York University's Child Study Center offers resources to help
parents, teachers and mental health professionals explain war and
terrorism to children, how to help them cope, and signs of
trauma-related stress. http://www.aboutourkids.org


HELP FOR TEENAGERS
33. **Reactions to Trauma: Suggestions for Teens
The National Mental Health and Education Center has brief information
for teens on normal reactions to trauma, and how they can help
themselves. http://www.naspcenter.org/safe_schools/trauma.html

34. **Talking to Children about Violence
What if teens don't want to talk, or if they are fascinated by these
events? Educators for Social Responsibility may have answers for you and
your family or classroom. http://www.esrnational.org/guide.htm

35. **Finding the Right Words
KidsHealth has information and helpful language for parents, teachers,
kids and teens about the painful feelings they might expect to have.
http://www.kidshealth.org/misc_pages/P_squarebanner.html

36. **Helping Children Cope with Disaster
When no other words come to mind, a hug and saying, "This is really hard
for us," will work, advises the National Mental Health and Education
Center. This handout for parents describes common reactions by age group
and ways to help children and teens, as adults struggle themselves to
make sense and feel in control.
http://www.naspcenter.org/safe_schools/coping.html

37. **Strategies for Parents and Teachers
Focusing on the themes of attachment and separation, North Carolina
State's Cooperative Extension Services offers specific activities and
ideas for families and classrooms, with some helpful advice for teens
and high schools. http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/fcs/humandev/disas3.html

HELPING WITH LOSS
38. **Children and Death
Most of the time adults are reluctant to talk about death with children.
These brochures from Hospice Net have helpful guidance for talking about
death with children and teenagers.
http://www.hospicenet.org/html/talking.html

39. **Children and Grief
When a family member dies, children react differently from adults.
Adding to a child's shock and confusion at the death of a brother,
sister or parent is the unavailability of other family members, who may
be so shaken by grief that they are not able to cope with the normal
responsibility of child care.
http://www.aacap.org/publications/factsfam/grief.htm

40. **All Kids Grieve
All kids experience loss. The key is to help them channel their grief
into personal growth, not violence or destructive behavior.
AllKidsGrieve.org offers books, classroom strategies and information on
how to start support groups for kids. http://www.allkidsgrieve.org

RESOURCES FOR CAREGIVERS, TEACHERS, COMMUNITIES
41. **Discussing the News with 3- to 7-Year-Olds: What to Do? In times
of great distress, young children need to hear that "your grownups at
home and your grownups at school know how to take care of you." Here are
specific classroom suggestions from the National Association for the
Education of Young Children.
http://www.naeyc.org/resources/eyly/1998/22.htm

42. **Memorials/Activities/Rituals Following Traumatic Events: 
Suggestions for Schools, School memorials, ceremonies or memory
activities 
following a traumatic experience serve an important function in the
healing process 
for both students and staff. The National Association of School
Psychologists offers guidance on planning such activities.
http://www.nasponline.org/NEAT/memorials.html

43. **Talking to Public School Students about Disasters
The DC Public Schools has an outline of what to expect, and how to
react, when the news or events upset children.
http://www.k12.dc.us/dcps/disaster_manual.htm

44. **Crisis Communications Guide and Toolkit
This National Education Association toolkit offers approaches and
activities for schools at the time of crisis, as well as in the
aftermath
- ways to return to a new "normal" and help in understanding how
children and teens respond to trauma and stress.
http://www.nea.org/crisis

45. **Helping Children Handle Disaster-Related Anxiety
The National Mental Health Association reminds us that each child
responds differently to disasters, depending on his or her understanding
and maturity. The National Mental Health Association (800-969-6642) can
provide you with information about your local mental health association
or local American Red Cross chapter.
http://www.nmha.org/newsroom/terrorismtips.cfm

HELPING ADULTS
46. **Finding Ways to Help Yourself
It's hard to help children with their feelings when adults themselves
are feeling stunned, confused or anxious. Arizona State University has
some good advice for adults.
http://www.asu.edu/provost/intergroup/resources/tragedies.html#anchor187
218

47. **Coping with Terrorism
The American Psychological Association explains common reactions and how
adults can help themselves, and their children.
http://helping.apa.org/daily/terrorism.html

48. **U.S. Government Responds to September 11
First.gov has information to help families identify benefits and find
assistance, along with suggestions for those who want to help.
http://www.firstgov.gov/featured/usgresponse.html

HELPING OTHERS
49. **Finding Ways to Help Others
Aid organizations like the Red Cross and Salvation Army are coordinating
their efforts with government agencies to organize help for stricken
communities. Check your local paper or TV for local information on
donating blood or money. Here is a list of national organizations that
can channel your donations to those who need it most.
http://www.helping.org/

TALKING ABOUT HATRED
50. **What to Do about Prejudice?
If you are hearing an increase in prejudiced anti-Arab comments, you can
intervene. Here's advice from Educators for Social Responsibility.
http://www.esrnational.org/guide.htm#bigotry

51. **Promoting Tolerance and Peace in Children: Tips for Parents and
Schools While anger is a normal response felt by many, we must ensure
that we do not compound an already great tragedy and react against
innocent individuals with vengeance and intolerance, says the National
Association of School Psychologists. Find key messages for adults to
help children, and themselves.
http://www.nasponline.org/NEAT/tolerance.html

52. **When Hurt Leads to Hate
As adults we need to be aware of and stand up to physical and emotional
hate and empower our children to do the same. This article from the New
York University Child Study Center has ideas for how parents can help
children deal with this crisis without becoming prejudiced, stereotyping
specific groups, or retaliating with acts of bias.
http://www.aboutourkids.org/articles/hate.html


53. **Reporting Harassment
If you or your children have been subjected to harassment or attack, the
Council on American Islamic Relations Web site has guidelines, a phone
number and an online reporting form. http://www.cair-net.org/ireport/

54. **Help against Hatred
Along with advice for parents on talking with children, the National PTA
has posted information on talking with children about hatred and
prejudice, in both English and Spanish.
http://www.pta.org/parentinvolvement/tragedy/index.asp

MORE RESOURCES
55.     http://www.ces.purdue.edu/terrorism/children/index.html
56.     National Association of School Psychologists
http://www.nasponline.org. 57.     Coping with Tragedy website -
http://www.cce.cornell.edu/issues/cceresponds/
58.     Helping Children Deal with Tragedies 

-----
From: J. M. Grymes   
Date: Thu, 27 Feb 2003 16:27:55 -0600

http://www.aap.org, the American Academy of Pediatrics has an extensive
list of links related to children, terrorism, & disasters.