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How
to Talk to Your Children About the Terrorist Attack
"How can such a horrible
thing happen to innocent people?" "Who were these bad people?"
"How can Allah let this happen?" "Does it mean now our people
in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Palestine will be killed?" These are few
of the many questions that are bothering our kids' thoughts lately. Following
are twelve simple ways you can try to handle their innocent, yet valid, questions.
1) Take into account the
age of your child and their sensitivity to violence before talking about it
or allowing them to see shocking images on the news.
2) Be honest with your children
that this was a horrible action of violence that we as Muslims and Pakistanis
do not support and in fact despise. Reiterate that Islam is a religion of peace
and equity and that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was
always fair and just.
3) Tell your children that
their friends might be asking them about the disaster and that they could respond
by saying, "The person/people who did this attack are bad but most of the
people in the world are good and those good people include Muslims too."
They can also tell their friends that violence is not part of their family or
their faith.
4) Listen to your children
and what they tell you, in case anyone is bullying them at school or in public.
Report any bullying immediately to school officials or police authorities as
needed.
5) Tell your children as
much as possible that Allah loves them and will never let anything bad happen
to them. Pray with them and help them to make Dua in their own words to express
to Allah their feelings.
6) Communicate in a gentle
manner.
7) Children are likely to
have many questions and we should treat all of their questions as important.
8) Keep in mind that children
need to be reassured. Hugs, kisses and words of comfort are what many children
may need.
9) If a child does not wish
to express himself/herself, don't force them; alternately, if they want to say
something, give them an opportunity to express their feelings.
10) Some children often
express themselves by drawing or by creating a story.
11) Also, avoid letting
children see violent and disturbing images over and over again.
12) Children need to know
that sometimes bad things happen but Allah is the One who looks after us all
and we need to know that He will always be there for us.
Date/Time Last Modified: 6/18/2002 8:07:20 AM
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