What can we say to children when public tragedies and upsetting events occur? Should we shield them from the news? How can we reassure them and help them feel safe?

Here is some advice from early childhood experts that may be helpful.

1. Listen and talk to your child.
There is no need to tell young children about disastrous world events. However, children often pick up information at preschool, on TV news, or from adult conversations. You may want to find out what your child has heard by asking: Did you hear anything about …?

Respect your child’s attempts to make sense of what happened. You want your child to feel comfortable talking with you about confusing things.

Children often express thoughts and worries through their play. Listen and watch. You may want to gently join in and help your child work through the scary parts.

Answer questions honestly but briefly. Use simple words.

 

2. Help your children feel safe.
The most important thing for children to know is that they are safe and that you will take care of them.

Children may be aware that you are worried and upset. This can make them feel scared. Talk about your feelings. Acknowledge that a bad thing has happened, but try to be reassuring and optimistic.

Enjoy lots of family togetherness, talking and cuddling.

Keep daily routines as normal as possible. It helps children feel comfortable.

Do chores, read stories, and watch favorite TV shows together.

Avoid adult conversations about disasters in front of young children.

Protect young children from seeing violent images on TV news.

 

3. Become a helper.
Help your child notice the many things caring people in your family, community, and the world are doing to help others.

As your family reaches out to others, try to find ways your child can also participate. For example, children can donate outgrown toys to family shelters, do simple chores for elderly neighbors, or participate in a community park clean-up or walk for hunger.

Violent events remind us how important it is to find ways to solve our problems peacefully. Help your child learn to respect others, appreciate diversity, and find healthy ways to resolve daily conflicts.

© 2001 WGBH Educational Foundation. All rights reserved. Underlying TM/© Marc Brown. Used with permission.. Funding for Arthur is provided by a Ready-To-Learn Television Cooperative Agreement from the U.S. Department of Education, through the Public Broadcasting Service, and public television viewers. Corporate funding is provided by Libby’s® Juicy Juice®, Post®Alpha-Bits®Cereal, and LEGO®.Watch Arthur® on PBS Kids and visit the Arthur Web site at pbskids.org/arthur.

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The contents of this handout were supported under the Ready-To-Learn Television Program, P/R Award Number R295A00002, as administered by the Office of Educational Research and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education. However, the contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

ARTHUR is produced by WGBH Boston and CINAR.

 

ARTHUR™ Episodes
Promoting Understanding and Compassion

Talking about television characters and situations is often a good way to start a conversation about feelings and issues. Below is a list of ARTHUR shows that especially promote the values of understanding and compassion.

CONFLICT RESOLUTION

Team Trouble
Arthur, Francine, and Buster must do a report on ancient Rome -- but can they work as a team to complete the assignment?

The Big Blow-Up
When two very opinionated friends butt heads, look out! Can Francine and the Brain put aside their differences (their “rancor,” as Brain would describe it) for the good of the soccer team? Probably not -- so Arthur and Buster decide to “write” some wrongs.

My Club Rules
The gang can’t agree on rules for their club, and each starts his own

Arthur and D.W. Clean Up
Arthur just might make it to Happy Crazy Wow Day at the park -- if he and D.W. can work together to clean both their rooms!

Arthur’s Family Feud
Who ruined Dad’s perfect soufflé? The only thing Arthur and D.W. can agree on is that poor Pal was an unwitting accomplice. To solve this whodunit, Mom and Dad listen to both sides -- and the siblings demonstrate some very imaginative storytelling!

 

FEARS

Night Fright
Big, brave Binky Barnes. He’d be toast if people ever discovered he can’t sleep without a night light. It’s his deepest, darkest secret. When Arthur spends the night, and discovers the truth, Binky has no choice but to try....bribery.

Lost!
For an 8-year-old, Arthur is usually pretty cool. Except for D.W., there’s not too much that upsets him. But one day, Arthur falls asleep on a bus and awakens in a strange -- and scary -- part of town. Will he ever find his way home? Can he keep himself from crying? And will D.W. ever forgive Arthur for scaring her like that?

Arthur vs. the Very Mean Crossing Guard
Arthur and the Brain encounter a new crossing guard on the way home from school. This guard isn’t just mean, he’s nuts! He charges $10 to cross the street and if you don’t pay his goons will find you!! Is this guy for real?

D.W., All Fired Up
What exactly is a fire drill anyway? When Ms. Morgan announces they’ll be having one during preschool, D.W. wants no part of it -- it sounds way too scary. Can she manage to stay home from school every day until the danger passes? (A read-aloud version of this episode is found in the ARTHUR Activity Booklet: Feeling Good about School.)

 

LOSS

113 So Long, Spanky
D.W.’s beloved bird gets very sick, and despite D.W.’s eager ministrations, (or maybe because of them) Spanky dies. But when a lonely frog decides to adopt D.W. , she faces her greatest test -- can she risk giving her heart to another pet?

127 D.W.’s Blankie
D.W., tomboy, gymnast, has one little secret -- her blankie. For sleeping, TV watching, and general, all-around comfort, there’s nothing quite like it. When it mysteriously disappears, Arthur is pressed into service. Find that blankie -- or else!

212 Arthur’s Faraway Friend
Arthur’s in the midst of writing a great adventure story with Buster when he gets some very bad news -- Buster is leaving town to go live with his Dad for a while. Is this the end of their story? Is it the end of their friendship?

 

TOLERANCE

121 Sue Ellen Moves In
A new girl has arrived in town and no one knows anything about her. And judging by the strange things happening at her house no one wants to know. Is she an invisible spy from an alien nation? Or just a regular girl named Sue Ellen?

313 Arthur’s Dummy Disaster
When painfully shy George brings a ventriloquist dummy to school, a popular kid is born! Suddenly, everybody wants to hang with George and his witty wooden pal, Wally. George and Wally remain inseparable, though, and the gang eventually gets pretty tired of talking to a dummy. Can George make it on his own?

410 My Music Rules
It’s the duel of the century as cellist Yo-Yo Ma faces jazz saxophonist Joshua Redman in the toughest gig of their careers... in the Elwood City Library?! Whose music will rule after the greats duke it out in the battle of classical versus jazz?

From http://pbskids.org/arthur/grownups/index.html