A. While it is understandable that he would be concerned or afraid because he knows this, the most important thing that you can do is to make sure that he is not exposed to these terror alerts and news about terrorism on a continual basis.
Since he does know already, some things you might want to know before you can help him is:
- Where did he hear about the terror alert? Was it from watching the news, or a discussion at school, or from one of his friends?
- What else does he know about current world events?
- What exactly is he worried about?
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, 'it's important to communicate to children that they're safe. Given what they may have seen on television, they need to know that the violence is isolated to certain areas and they will not be harmed. Parents should try to assure children that they've done everything they can to keep their children safe.'
Although the following resources can help you and your child better understand and cope with current events, if your child has persistent fears, especially if they are interfering with his school, home or social functioning, you should likely seek professional help:
If your child is still concerned, it might help for him to understand that your family is prepared in case a disaster or act of terrorism does happen.
