That said.
If you have small children at home, or even not so small ones,
TURN OFF YOUR TELEVISION!
And...radio if children are present. Listening as it happens will not prevent, change or affect the eventual outcome. Catch up with the news (if you feel the need) after the kids go to sleep!
Young children cannot differentiate from a bombing thousands of miles away and next door. Young children cannot tell the difference between what happens "there" and what happens "here". This is not about sheltering or hiding children from the "real world". This is about being real about what children understand and don't understand. This is about recognizing that secondary trauma with real psychological implications for the short and long term, can occur when people (especially children) witness traumatic events--even if it's "merely" televised.
If by chance your child does witness events beyond their ability to comprehend...the PBS website for talking about news with children is helpful.
As are the words of the Reverend Fred Rogers
“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”
2 comments:
Thanks Joy.
Mike Kinman (Dean of Christ Church Cathedral, St. Louis) echoes this:
"When events like this happen there is the temptation to get sucked into the coverage and spend hours in front of the TV. Resist that temptation. Giving in to it only gives power to those who would kill and maim and destroy. You will lose nothing by waiting until 10 pm for an update or waiting until morning. But if you use that time caring for someone in need, or saying your prayers, or even having a cold beer with a good friend ... you will have done your part to testify that the forces of evil will never, ever be victorious."
Kurt, a cold beer with you would be lovely--let's hear it for testifying against the forces of evil!!!!!
Post a Comment