September 14, 2001

In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the United States, MassGeneral Hospital for Children and MGH Psychiatry offer the following suggestions for parents as they try to communicate with school-aged children about these events.

1. First, parents should ask what their child knows about the events of the day. This allows a parent to clarify distortions and help the child get clear information. Parents should encourage and invite questions.

2. Parents should encourage their child not to worry alone.

3. Sorting out concerns for personal safety may be first on a child's mind. Parents should explain to their child how far New York and Washington are from Boston.

4. The complicated and unanswerable questions do not need to be answered today. Children will understand that a thoughtful response may take time and require parents to consult with many others for an answer.

5. Some children may not want to go to school. A parent may ask the child if he or she is afraid of what happened. Kids may say they have a bellyache or sore throat. While some may actually be physically ill, it is not unusual for children to react emotionally through physical complaints. If a child seems very distressed, then school is not in order. Parents may choose to keep a child home for part of the day or elect to drive the child to school. For some adolescents, it may be helpful to be in school with other peers.

6. Children should watch television coverage of the events with parental guidance. Infants and toddlers especially should be protected from violent and graphic images. There is no way that kids can be sheltered from the media portrayal of such events. It is far better for kids to watch television with parental guidance so that they can ask questions and present their emotional responses than it is for them to do it alone or with peers.