
The harm of indirect exposure of terrorism to our kids
A recent Frontiers in Pediatrics article made for distressing reading. Titled Mental and Emotional Health of Children Exposed to News Media of Threats and Acts of Terrorism: The Cumulative and Pervasive Effects, it came to the unsurprising conclusion that indirect exposure to terrorism acts and threats through the media affects the health of our children, in ways that differ completely from adults.
The researchers argued that children’s vulnerability, immaturity and developmental states can change their perspectives on terrorism issues, and the tools used to address these issues do not affect each child equally.
They also found that emotional problems might not surface immediately. Instead, they may only surface much later, depending on the environment in which the child is raised, and additional disparities he or she experiences.
While ubiquitous media content makes it increasingly hard to shield our children from the grim realities of 21st century warfare, the open-access information age we live in also means we can proactively equip ourselves with a plethora of tools—like this guide from the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, or these tips from Stanford University School of Medicine Clinical Psychologist Ellen Hendriksen—to help us have these conversations.
These three tips have helped me navigate uncharted waters with my kids:
- Make time to actively listen and talk to your child
My most insightful conversations with the kids tend to happen at bedtime, in the car, or when we’re out for walks. The key for me is to recognize when the tone of the conversation has shifted from things happening in their personal sphere, to the less tangible great wide yonder.
- Frame your answers using language and concepts your child understands
You know your child best. For my older son, I tell him stories, or use references from books or movies that we know. In the wake of the violence 2016 has meted on the world so far, I reassured my older son using one of our favorite Gandalf quotes from The Lord of the Rings:
“Some believe it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. It is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love.”
- Look for the helpers
A friend of mine reminded me of the evergreen words from American educator, puppeteer and activist, Fred Rogers:
“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would always say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’”
So, regardless of the state of the world around me, I try my best to instill in my sons a faith in humanity. Hopefully, as they move through life, they’ll find others like them who will build bridges and not walls.
This article is from a monthly column called Mushroom Mum. Click here to see the other articles in this series.
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Copyright: Asian Scientist Magazine; Photo: Shutterstock.
Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily reflect the views of AsianScientist or its staff.