This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: For millions of Americans, Sept. 11, 2001, is a vivid memory. For younger generations, it's a history lesson.
This week, scenes from that day will be replayed on screens across the country as the nation remembers the 25th anniversary of the attacks. For young children, those images can be confusing and scary. For parents, navigating the questions and conversations that follow can be tricky.
Haley Horstman, a professor at the University of Missouri's College of Arts and Science and director of the Mizzou Story Lab, studies family communication. Her research team recently examined how parents talk with their children about 9/11. We asked her what the research can teach families about discussing difficult events and passing their stories from one generation to the next.
Our study showed that many parent-child conversations about 9/11 start with parents answering children's questions or reacting to something they see in the media. That's a great way to start talking about it because it shows parents what children are curious about. However, waiting to talk about it until their child asks a question may inadvertently send the message that discussing historical tragedies like 9/11—or other difficult topics—is off-limits.
Children may have questions but not know how to ask, or they might not feel comfortable broaching the subject. So, because we know that the anniversary is approaching, bringing up 9/11 will send children the message that conversations are welcome. That's particularly important with something like 9/11, which children may learn about at school or encounter in the media and be unsure how to make sense of it.
Parents should consider their child's age, maturity, emotional capacity and interest when deciding how to start the conversation. The goal isn't necessarily to sit children down for a formal discussion but to make sure they know it's something they can discuss openly. One of our biggest findings is that parents consider their child's age, temperament, maturity and emotional capacity when deciding how, or whether, to discuss 9/11.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
