Kids, Violence, Disaster, & War

The destruction wrought by Hurricane Katrina in late August 2005 on coastal Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama is stunning. I hold in my thoughts and prayers everyone who is closely involved, and all who feel its impact.

Someone said to me after the September 11 terror attacks on the U.S.A. that God is not at a distance, but rather right next to each person. I hold that close again and again. God was and is present with those in every attic and every rooftop; every bus, boat, helicopter, hotel, shelter, and other temporary space with the refugees; every water- and debris-filled neighborhood and city street; every person near and far attempting to help in whatever way we can.

My task in this as a parent, like many of you, is now to answer my children's difficult questions about disaster as well as to help them work through their thoughts and feelings. The December 2004 tsunami in southeast Asia was far away and prompted questions; this one is a day trip away and has stirred up some fears. I give thanks that even my poorest attempts will help all three of us.

blessings,
Barbara Laufersweiler
Owner and creator, Faith at Home
September 1, 2005

Offer your children some faith language

Create or adapt a play set of a shepherd, some sheep, and a sheepfold. You could cut out paper figures or use playdough or pipecleaners. Read together or tell a Good Shepherd story (Psalm 23 & John 10). Wonder together how the sheep felt as the Good Shepherd took care of them near the sheepfold and also in the dangerous, rocky places. Leave the play set available for play and working through this essential story.

Light a candle to remember the people involved, and to remember that Christ is our light.

Spend some time with free-art supplies such as colored pencils or crayons, colored papers torn up for mosaic pictures, moldable clay, charcoals, watercolors, or craft items, so your children and you can express whatever you like in a visual, tactile way with no explanation required.

Plant some flower bulbs that will bloom in the spring. Bring your children to the store, buy some bulbs (tulips, narcissus, snowdrops, anemones, whatever you like), dig some holes in your yard's soil or put moist soil in indoor containers, drop those bundles of promise into their places, and cover them with soil, as you look ahead to when they might bloom after winter. If you're in the Southern hemisphere, you might plant fall-blooming bulbs while it's spring.

Faith at Home

Violence, Disaster, & War

Terrorism & War at Faith at Home

+ For adults +

In the Shadow of Fear: Living with violence, disaster, and war - A Faith at Home article

A Faithful Response to Violence and War: Some suggestions for parents and teachers - A Faith at Home article

A Light In This Dark Valley: A manual for disaster and trauma victims - for older children

...And Now What? A helping hand for children that have suffered a loss

How do we prepare our children to deal with suffering? - A Faith at Home article

Helping Young Children Cope With Trauma - An online Red Cross brochure

Talking to Children about Violence - A brief, very helpful overview

Helping Children Understand Crisis and Trauma - Make sure to look through the links at the bottom of the page, too; great resources.

Talking with Kids About the News

Offer your children some faith language