"What Can I Tell My Children About the War?"

As the United States is preparing for war in Iraq and continues to deal domestically with issues related to terrorism, NCFR has been asked by parents and media personnel as to how parents can deal with these issues with their children. Essentially, "What can I tell my children?" As a service to parents who may come to our Website for answers, NCFR has compiled a list of online materials/information that might be helpful to parents, professionals in the field, media, and the general public. We have listed such information with Website linkages.

Web Resources from University Extension Services, other universities, military services and other national agencies

Purdue University Extension offers advice for helping children cope with terrorist attacks and their aftermath.
http://www.ces.purdue.edu/terrorism.

University of Minnesota, Children, Youth & Family Consortium has information on how parents can help their children with their concerns, fears and worries about war.
http://www.cyfc.umn.edu/publications/newsreleases/3-10-03nr.html

Kansas State University Research and Extension has information on the impact of military deployment and related issues on families.
http://www.humec.k-state.edu/news/2003/Militarymain.html

University of Minnesota Extension Service, Restoring Hope in the Wake of Terrorism
http://www.extension.umn.edu/administrative/disasterresponse/terrorism.html

University of Minnesota Extension Service, Ready to Respond
http://www.extension.umn.edu/administrative/disasterresponse/terror2.html

University of Illinois Extension Service, Talking with Children about Terrorism and War
http://web.aces.uiuc.edu/familylife/terrorism.htm

New York University Child Study Center, Talking to Kids About Terrorism or Acts of War

http://www.aboutourkids.org/articles/war.html

Healthy Parenting Tool Kit is a joint effort of University of Missouri (Human Environmental Sciences and 4-H/ ParentLink) and Lincoln University. Materials cover topics related to parenting young children during times of deployment, relocation, and dangerous work.
http://mfrc.calib.com/healthyparenting/dangerouswork.cfm

The National Extension System has a website regarding children and trauma and the University of Georgia Extension has produced publications as well.
http://www.agctr.lsu.edu/eden/default.aspx

From Georgia Extension:

http://fcs.uga.edu/pubs/PDF/CHFD-E-10-1.pdf

http://fcs.uga.edu/pubs/PDF/CHFD-E-10-2.pdf

http://fcs.uga.edu/pubs/PDF/CHFD-E-10-6.pdf

http://fcs.uga.edu/pubs/PDF/CHFD-E-19-03.pdf

Center for the Family at Pepperdine University developed information on preparing for the war.
http://www.pepperdine.edu/gsep/family/Families,%20Trauma,%20and%20Terrorism.htm

Families and Work Institute has developed a Salute to Educators guide that addressees age- and developmentally- appropriate tips on how to communicate with children in all situations of crisis, trauma and tragedy.
http://www.familiesandwork.org/salute.html

The Learning Network, Talking About Conflict and War
http://www.familyeducation.com/article/0,1120,20-6055,00.html

The Learning Network, Talking with Children about War - Pointers for Parents
http://www.familyeducation.com/article/0,1120,1-4412,00.html

Children Now, Talking with Kids about the News
http://www.childrennow.org/television/twk-news.htm

Family Information Services has a web page of resources on "Families and Crisis."
http://familyinfoserv.com/crisis.html

The Navy's Roosevelt has a website and a "lifeline" link to other services on what to say to children, especially when they have a loved one that is so far away.
http://www.spear.navy.mil, http://www.navy.mil, and http://kidspeace.org/war.htm.

"Something to Remember Me By" Legacy Project has tips on helping children talk about and deal with war and terrorism, as well as activity ideas that children can do with parents and grandparents.
http://www.somethingtoremembermeby.org/holidaykit/part2/hd2.6a.html

From the BBC, teaching resources on Iraq.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/cbbcnews/hi/teachers/citizenship_11_14/subject_areas/conflict_resolution/newsid_2280000/2280663.stm

From Chick Moorman, "The Five Best and Worst Things You Can Say To Your Children About War."

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