Editor’s Note: We originally published this article in 2011, in anticipation of the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy. Everything here is as relevant today as it was a few years ago. Here is info on local 2016 remembrance ceremonies:
The Champaign Fire Department’s 9/11 Memorial Ceremony will take place at 8:46 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 11 at West Side Park (northeast corner at the Champaign Fire and Police Memorial).
The American Legion Post 559, 704 N. Hickory, Champaign invites you to their 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony on Sunday, September 11 at 5:00pm. Rain or shine. A chance to reflect, remember, and re-commit ourselves to serving others at all times. All are encouraged to attend.
As we come within days of the 15th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, the media has been filled with recollections, stories and replays of that terrible day when so many lives were lost.
Kids don’t live in a vacuum, and they can and do absorb what we parents may see as background noise: A mention on the radio talking about the tragedy, a clip on the nightly news of the Twin Towers falling or even a Facebook status they read over our shoulders. Explaining what happened that day and why we’re talking about it a decade later can be a daunting task.
However, there are some excellent resources available for those who want to talk about September 11 with their kids. Here, we offer our top five guides for this difficult discussion.
1. The National September 11 Memorial & Museum website offers a one-page downloadable resource of tips for talking to kids, as well as lots of information and documentation at their site.
2. Nick News and veteran reporter Linda Ellerbee paired up to create a special episode of the children’s current-events program, “Nick News: What Happened on September 11.” You can watch the full episode with your child here.
3. The Huffington Post offers a guide written by parenting expert and therapist Susan Stiffelman, which addresses specific questions your child may have, as well as advice on limiting their exposure to the media coverage of this anniversary. Having a script for answering questions like, “Mom, what’s a terrorist” can help a parent who is struggling to put such an adult concept into words a child can grasp — without being frightened.
4. Richard Rende is an associate professor of psychiatry and human behavior at Brown University, and he suggests talking to your kids before they are exposed to media coverage of September 11. Rende, who also blogs for Parents, offers great tips about being direct and upfront with your kids about this event.
5. The American Psychological Association sat down with Robin Gurwitch, a program coordinator at the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, for a Q and A about how kids respond to trauma and how adults can help them cope. Gurwitch points out that kids may experience increased anxiety during this time.
Are your children curious or concerned about September 11? What tips do you have for talking about it with them?