[In the News]:Explaining Tragedy


This is Steve Emberwith the VOA Special English program, IN THE NEWS.

Few people escaped from seeing or hearing about the terroristattacks in the United States Tuesday morning. Two hijacked airplanesstruck the World Trade Center in New York City. A short time later,another hijacked plane hit the headquarters of the United StatesDefense Department, near Washington. A fourth hijacked plane crashedin the eastern state of Pennsylvania.

All two-hundred-sixty-six people on the four planes were killed.Hundreds of other people are known to have died. Thousands of othersare missing, and feared dead. The President declared Friday a day tohonor the memories of the many victims of the attacks.

When a terrorist attack happens, many people feel very frightenedand worried. They experience the same feelings during a war,earthquake, flooding or other major event that is out of control.

Mental health experts are concerned about children who experiencea tragic event before they are eleven years of age. They say suchchildren are three times more likely to develop emotional problemsthan those who experience their first tragedy later in life.

Experts say children are better able to deal with a tragedy ifparents, friends and other adults help them understand theexperience. They say help should start as soon as possible after theevent. Experts offer a number of suggestions about how to explain atragedy to children. They say how adults react to a child's feelingsand questions is important to helping a child feel safe again.

First, experts say parents should attempt to control theirreaction to the tragedy. Parents should remain as calm as possible.They say children will react to what they see.

Next, adults should help children feel secure. Listen to theworries children express, without judging them. Parents should talkto their children. Tell children repeatedly that they and otherloved ones are safe. Also, family members need to gather in one areaand spend more time together.

Explaining a tragic event is difficult. The kind of explanationhas to be based on the child's age and level of thinking. For ayoung child, a tragedy must be explained in simple terms. Aterrorist attack can be explained as some people did something verybad.

Some experts urge adults to limit their time with radio ortelevision when children are present. They say adults should not lettheir desire to be informed about events affect a child's mentalhealth. Experts also urge parents to return to their normalactivities as soon as possible. They say people of all ages like tohave an established way of doing things.

This VOA Special English program, IN THE NEWS, was written byGeorge Grow. This is Steve Ember.

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