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What Can I Tell My Children About the War?
Online Resources

From Back to the Science of Mental Health, for About.com

Updated March 31, 2003

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Mar 30 2003

As the United States prepared for war in Iraq and continued to deal domestically with issues related to terrorism, The National Council on Family Relations was 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. 

University of Minnesota, Children, Youth & Family Consortium has information on how parents can help their children with their concerns, fears and worries about war.

Kansas State University Research and Extension has information on the impact of military deployment and related issues on families. 

University of Minnesota Extension Service - Restoring Hope in the Wake of Terrorism 

University of Minnesota Extension Service - Ready to Respond 

University of Illinois Extension Service - Talking with Children about Terrorism and War 

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

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. 

The National Extension System has a website regarding children and trauma and the University of Georgia Extension has produced publications as well. 

Several documents 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. 

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. 

The Learning NetworkTalking About Conflict and War 

The Learning NetworkTalking with Children about War - Pointers for Parents 

Children Now - Talking with Kids about the News 

Family Information Services has a web page of resources on "Families and Crisis." 

See Page two for more resources...

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