once kids are in school their naïve trust in a safe world can begin to slip away. they’ll hear messages like “don’t talk to strangers” and they’ll inevitably see scenes of war and bloodshed on the news. it can be difficult for them to understand how some places are very far away and that some things aren’t going to happen in their schools and homes. don’t be overly explicit at this age. instead give them enough information to protect themselves but don’t fill in the details of every possibility. “if you see a gun don’t touch it. just tell the teacher right away ” or “if you see someone in the school that looks like they don’t belong there tell an adult about it. ” middle schoolers are at an awkward time with only one foot nearing adulthood. use your judgment about how much news to expose your child to but keep in mind that violent images (especially video) can leave a very strong impression. children at this age are vulnerable to peer pressure and to the formation of prejudices that may become a permanent part of their worldview so be careful about over-generalizations. as your children approach adulthood it’s time to help them understand the complex challenges the world faces. why do those people on television hate us? what is our country doing to protect us? what do we believe in? how do we know who is right and who is wrong? as children leave their parent’s homes there’s a new vulnerability: viewpoints and arguments from other sides of the fence. help your children stand up for what they believe in by discussing what “the other side” thinks-not just to say that we’re right but to understand the why and even the why of how other people might be misled.
how do you talk to school-age children about terrorism?