For all the parents asking themselves: ‘How do I protect my children from the news out of Paris?’.
The 24-hour news cycle means it will be difficult to shield your kids from absolutely everything.
If they don’t hear it on the radio, they might catch a glimpse on the TV. And even if you shut off all media, you can’t stop what they overhear from the adults around them – or the other kids at school.
According to the Kids Helpline, when children are frightened, their feelings will often show through nightmares, feeling sick, having trouble sleeping, being reluctant to go to school and worrying about things more than they normally would.
If you’re wondering how to talk to your kids about the terror attacks in France and how much you should tell them, here are some top tips via The Kids Helpline (republished with full permission):
We know that disturbing and upsetting news viewed on television and through social media impacts negatively on children.
Every day we hear and see news coverage about events occurring either locally in Australia or internationally. The 24 hour news reporting cycle ensures we are kept up to date with the details of newsworthy events including graphic interviews with distressed victims, sad eye witnesses or intense commentators.
Our television and iPad screens are filled with images such as vivid action pictures of sieges, hostages running for their lives with fear and terror on their faces, buildings being washed away in raging floodwaters, people’s homes engulfed in bushfires, or terrorists making demands in return for the lives of people they’ve captured. Numerous studies also show that general news stories can also negatively affect children.
Top Comments
I will tell them that the governments aren't doing enough to protect their citizens. We are living in a world where political correctness and 'human rights' prevail and having these laws means the bad people will always win. While the western world are over thinking things and being over educated, we are not taking action against the evil and evil is winning.
The western world needs to get out of Iraq and Syria and leave the people alone. The western world needs to mind their own business. Send all refugees back as there is a danger there are terrorists among them.
We need hardline government.
Agreed, tough but necessary.
Ok. I'm a refugee I have not terrorised or hurt anybody in any way in the 15 years that I've lived here, I pay taxes and volunteer. It's ignorant comments like this that spread hate and mistrust within our community. I did not choose to be a refugee, but just because I am does not make me a terrorist or a criminal.
Unfortunately, I agree with you Anon. We need to worry about our own country and mind our own business.
Nobody saying ALL the refugees are bad/criminals/terrorists, what a ridiculous thing to say. People ("anon") are simply trying to make a point that we need to keep ourselves safe, and by taking refugees, we're taking a risk. There will undoubtedly be good, kind people among the refugees, those that deserve a safe place to call home. But at the same time there will be those with them, as seen in Paris, that hide amongst the real refugees, those that have insidious agendas. We need to protect ourselves first.....