Many of the victims killed or hurt in the were children and teens.
That fact can be difficult for young people to process and for parents.
Megan Woods has tips for parents on how to make the conversation a little smoother.
“Obviously when the kids are involved it’s much worse.”
Scott Newman-Bale spent his first 20 years living in England during a time similar to this, terrorist attacks happening often.
With kids killed in Monday’s attack it hit even closer to home.
He says, “My entire childhood was terrorism threats not every day but on a regular basis as soon as you realize the significance of it and the number of death toll kind of increasing it definitely brings me back to the memories of being there.”
Attacks like these can change a child or teen.
Newman-Bale says, “It definitely makes you more vigilant, thoughtful of things which isn’t always a good thing, but it’s definitely something you become aware of and taints you a little bit.”
Even for kids thousands of miles away.
Donna Smith, Behavioral Health Therapist at Child and Family Services in Traverse City says during 9/11 her kids and their peers were scared.
“We all just kind of let them know you’re safe nothing is happening here because a lot of them were…are we next are we next.”
Smith says especially when terror victims are their age, it’s important we talk the fear away.
“Letting them process, letting them ask questions, don’t cut them off if they ask a question that maybe scares you, but really allow them to feel what they’re feeling and ask the questions that they’re asking.”
Scott Newman-Bale says “If you start to live your life differently then they win so I like to tell people I’ve grown up with it just power through it.”
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