Kids, Violence & War - Faith at Home

After the violent, tragic events on Tuesday, September 11, 2001, in the Northeast U.S. I have held in my thoughts and prayers everyone who is closely involved -- from those who have died or been injured, to those grieving the loss of loved ones, rescue & recovery workers, those in the armed forces, those who have lost jobs or homes, those who are caught in constant fear, and all others.

Someone said to me that God is not at a distance -- God was in every seat of each plane; at every desk in every office; on every step of those stairwells; with every person on the streets; at the side of every rescue worker; with each of us watching or listening from afar.

My task in this as a parent, like many of you, has been to answer my child's difficult questions about war, hate, & the terror attacks as well as to help him work through his thoughts and feelings about them. I give thanks that even my poorest attempts help both of us.

blessings,
Barbara Laufersweiler
Owner and creator, Faith at Home
September 22, 2001

Offer your children some faith language

Create or adapt a play set of a shepherd, some sheep, and a sheepfold. Read together or tell a Good Shepherd story (Psalm 23 & John 10). Wonder together how the sheep felt as the Good Shepherd took care of them near the sheepfold and also in the dangerous, rocky places. Leave the play set available for play and working through this essential story.

Light a candle to remember the people involved, and to remember that Christ is our light.

Spend some time with free-art supplies such as colored pencils or crayons, colored papers torn up for mosaic pictures, moldable clay, charcoals, watercolors, or craft items, so your children and you can express whatever you like in a visual, tactile way with no explanation required.

Plant some flower bulbs that will bloom in the spring. Bring your children to the store, buy some bulbs (tulips, narcissus, snowdrops, anemones, whatever you like), dig some holes in your yard's soil, drop those bundles of promise into their places, cover them with soil, and look ahead to when they might bloom after winter. If you're in the Southern hemisphere, you might plant fall-blooming bulbs while it's spring.

Faith at Home

Violence & War

Disaster & Trauma, at Faith at Home

+ For adults +

Let us pray: Litany after an act of terror

Sites full of info

In the Shadow of Fear: Living with violence, disaster, and war - A Faith at Home article

A Faithful Response to Violence and War: Some suggestions for parents and teachers - A Faith at Home article

A Light In This Dark Valley: A manual for disaster and trauma victims - for older children

...And Now What? A helping hand for children that have suffered a loss

How to Talk to Your Kids About Tuesday's Terrorist Attacks

Talking to Kids about Terrorism

Of war and words: talking to children about conflict

Talking with Kids About the News

Helping Young Children Cope With Trauma - An online Red Cross brochure

Talking to Children about Violence - A brief, very helpful overview

Helping Children Understand Crisis and Trauma - Make sure to look through the links at the bottom of the page, too; great resources.

Offer your children some faith language