To help you cope with the effects of the horrific terrorist attacks in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania, both as educators and as parents, we have compiled a list of tips and resources focused on helping children through these difficult times.

We also encourage you to read this thoughtful article by Robert Evans, Ed. D., Helping Children Cope with Tragic Loss, and to share your own tips with other teachers and parents at our Discussion Board.

The recent tragic events are not easy to discuss with students, no matter what grade they may be in. We offer the following suggestions:

• Listen carefully and be honest. Talk openly with your students about the tragic events with clear, age-appropriate information.
  
  
• Avoid rumors and misconceptions. First talk with other teachers in the school and your principal about what factual information to provide.
  
  
• Give your students the opportunity to gently face the reality of what has occurred. Include plenty of time during the day for class discussions in which the children can express their emotions and ask questions.
  
  
• Assure the students that their feelings are normal. Admit when you don't have specific answers, and share your own feelings with them, even if your feelings are difficult.
  
  
• Comfort your students. Emphasize that they should not be afraid to share how they feel and to cry if they want or need to.
  
  
• Stick to a normal school day routine. Routines can provide a sense of comfort for students who feel that their lives and emotions are out of control.
  
  
• Before they return to school, ask students who have suffered personal losses if they would like to discuss the death of their loved ones with the class. Set the tone for the discussion by explaining to the other students how they can support their grieving classmates by listening and being there for them.
  
  
• Incorporate activities that allow your class to process their feelings. Ask your students to write condolence letters or cards to the victims' families, and thank-you cards to the heroic men and women who rescued people. Point out all the stories of heroism and generosity.
  
  
• Encourage your students to express their feelings Through Art. This may help them express thoughts they are unable to articulate. Provide opportunities for your students to work together on a class project, like a memorial Web site, to express and display the emotions they share.
  
  
• Create an educational forum. Set up forums and discussion groups to discuss the attacks, and give students a chance to express their views. If possible, include or invite members of the Arab-American and Muslim communities to speak, too. Invite your social studies students to consider other ways of achieving peace and justice. Reaffirm the inherent value of all human life.
  
  

Information on this list has been compiled from the Web sites of The National Education Association, National Association of School Psychologists, and www.tolerance.org.

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It is not easy talking to children about tragic events. We offer the following suggestions to help you help your children cope with the trauma inflicted by the recent tragedy:

• Reassure children that they are safe. Explain to them that there are good, competent people in charge who are working to keep us all safe.
  
  
• Point out good deeds that have come out of this tragedy. Focus on stories of heroism and generosity to help children fortify their belief in humanity.
  
  
• Explain that feeling upset is normal. Communicate to your children that being sad or crying about these events is ok.
  
  
• Talk about the tragedy with children old enough to understand recent events. Tell your children the truth, but make sure that your explanations are age-appropriate. Younger children will need brief information (only if they are aware of the tragedy and are asking questions) combined with reassurances of safety and love. Older children will be able to ask more involved questions and may need more detailed reassurances about why they are safe. Give children the answers to their questions and try to avoid speculation. Be a good listener and ask your children why they are asking the questions they are asking, to get to the root of their anxiety.
  
  
• Try to keep your routine. This fosters feelings of safety and stability.
  
  
• Encourage young children to express their feelings through art. This may help them express thoughts they are unable to articulate.
  
  
• Stay calm. Children take cues from your behavior. It is ok to show that you are upset, but avoid expressing strong feelings of anger, fear, or hopelessness.
  
  
• Try to spend more time with your children. Tell them that you love them and engage them with quiet, calming activities.
  
  
• Limit exposure to the media. Avoid "staying glued" to the television. Instead, watch for a brief time and then talk about what you are seeing.
  
  
• Don't punish children for reverting to behaviors from an earlier age, e.g., bed-wetting. Instead, encourage them to verbalize the feelings behind their actions. These behaviors will subside over time.
  
  
• Be familiar with signs of trauma and monitor your child's behavior in the upcoming weeks. Be in touch with teachers and caregivers to ask about your child's behavior.
  
  
• Take care of yourself. Your children take cues from your words and actions, and you will need to take care of your own needs in order to stay calm and strong for your children. Seek out community resources to find the support you need.
  
  

This list of tips has been compiled using information from the Web sites of the following organizations: The American Counseling Association, The National Association of School Psychologists, and The Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance (COVA).

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Dear Parents and Educators,

The following is a list of resources that offer advice and guidance to help you manage trauma from the September 11th terrorist attacks on our city and our country, both at home and in the classroom. Three newly added resources are listed first, with the rest following in alphabetical order.

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These lesson plans have been selected for their relevance to issues raised by the September 11 terrorist attacks in our country.

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