| 5 Tips For Talking To Your Children About What They | | | | the amount of informationyou share with your child |
| See In | | | | differs across age groups and evenfrom child to child. |
| The News | | | | The best way to make sure kids know they are safe, |
| Copyright 2005 Dr. Charles Sophy | | | | is totalk with them about what they see and hear and |
| Keep 'Em Off My Couch | | | | give them achance to express their feelings. |
| Mommy (Daddy), Why do those people want to hurt | | | | Parents with children reacting to the news should: |
| everyone? | | | | - Know all the facts: Parents should help their |
| Last week, the world was shaken by another terrorist | | | | childrencope with the attacks first by finding out how |
| attack. | | | | much theyknow about what happened. |
| Hot on the heels of the Live 8 benefits and in the | | | | - Know yourself: Try to be aware of your own |
| middleof the G8 Summit, bombs exploded in London. | | | | anxieties inorder to know your child's. |
| Adults aroundthe globe were glued to CNN and spent | | | | - Know your child: Children may not have the verbal |
| time discussing theirfeelings about the event around | | | | capacityto discuss their anxieties. Watch for |
| the water cooler at work,with their partners at home | | | | newbehavioral/physical manifestations of their fears. |
| or in online discussion groupsand e-mails. Collectively, | | | | Forexample, your child may reveal his/her anxiety by |
| we reached out and werecomforted and reassured | | | | notwanting to separate to go to school or camp. |
| by the words of Prime Minister Tony | | | | - Reduce media exposure: It's important to filter |
| Blair and other world leaders. | | | | theinformation that your child receives so that you can |
| Many adults, however, do not realize how many kids | | | | controlthe intensity of the reaction, instill in your child |
| areexposed to the same news. Older children may | | | | yoursense of values and moral principles, and keep the |
| read thenewspaper or watch the news on TV. Others | | | | lines ofcommunication open and let them ask |
| may be exposed to | | | | questions. |
| "breaking news" during an interruption in their | | | | - Build a plan: Children, no matter their age, are |
| favoritecartoon t.v. program and still others can easily | | | | primarilyconcerned with safety "Am I safe? Is my |
| stumbleacross the information online via MSN, Yahoo, | | | | family safe?" Toallay their fears, work with your child |
| Google or anyof the other online portals. While adults | | | | to create a safetyplan. |
| were declaringtheir solidarity in the War On Terror last | | | | Remember: World disasters are scary for adults and |
| week, manychildren's anxieties and fears were being | | | | childrenalike. Always reach for more assistance when |
| overlooked. | | | | unsure of yournext step. |
| In our efforts to protect our children and preserve | | | | ) 2005 Dr. Charles Sophy |
| theinnocence of childhood as long as possible, we | | | | Dr. Charles Sophy currently serves as Medical Director |
| attempt toshield them from the atrocities that occur in | | | | forthe Los Angeles County Department of Children |
| today'sturbulent times. When events such as the | | | | and Family |
| bombs in London,the events at the elementary school | | | | Services (DCFS), which is responsible for the health, |
| in Belsan, Russia in | | | | safetyand welfare of nearly 40,000 foster children. He |
| September, 2004 and the September 11th attacks on | | | | also has aprivate psychiatry practice in Beverly Hills, |
| the World | | | | California. |
| Trade Center occur, our natural instinct is to not | | | | Dr. Sophy has lectured extensively and is an |
| discussthe events of the day with our children. Yet, as | | | | Associate |
| news ofterrorist attacks or other tragedies surround | | | | Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of |
| them, yourchildren may be feeling frightened, anxious, | | | | California Los Angeles Neuro-Psychiatric Institute. |
| sad andconfused. | | | | Hislectures and teachings are consistently ranked as |
| As a parent, only you can decide what news is | | | | among thebest by those in attendance. |
| appropriatefor your children but do not assume that | | | | Dr. Charles Sophy, author of the "Keep `Em Off My |
| your child does nothave an awareness of the tragic | | | | Couch"blog, provides real simple answers for solving |
| events that have a globalimpact. It's important to talk to | | | | life'sbiggest problems. He specializes in improving the |
| your children about theactions that shape our lives but | | | | mentalhealth of children. To contact Dr. |