Responding to Terrorism and War - Information for Educators
Supporting Children and Families
In the aftermath of terrorist violence, most educators struggle with how to best meet their students' needs. Many educators are trying to work through their own feelings of shock, grief, anger, fear, vulnerability, and helplessness. They feel at a loss to try to explain such events to their students. Yet, educators have a responsibility to help students to preserve a sense of security in the face of such frightening events. They need to help them understand what has happened, how it will or will not affect their lives, and must aid them in handling their emotional reactions. In some instances, educators may need to seek professional help for a student in order to prevent the development of long-term psychological problems.
- Learn about children's common reactions to a terrorist attack, according to age group.
- Learn how to help your students cope in the aftermath of a terrorist attack.
- Learn how to prevent student harassment and hate crimes in response to a terrorist attack.
- Explore online resources for educators concerning terrorism and war.
Something positive can come in the aftermath of terrorist violence if our new understanding of what it feels like to live in an environment of fear, insecurity, anxiety, and helplessness, leads us to greater compassion and concern for those children and youth who experience these feelings on a daily basis, due to the threat of youth violence.
Learn what educators can do to prevent youth violence.