Children no longer live in a world of simple fears like those experienced by Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. She gasped, "Oh my!" after learning she may soon encounter frightening "Lions, tigers, and bears."
Unlike Dorothy's companions, we hear the media chant about weekly terrorist acts, school shootings, and bombs that take planes down. Not so surprising, this results in more than just an "Oh my!" from our children. As parents and caregivers, we can take deliberate steps to help them move forward in life rather than being paralyzed by the fear of what might happen.
When Dorothy was afraid to continue walking into the spooky forest, she found the strength to continue by turning to those closest to her. To help your little ones manage their fears, do it like Dorothy. Apply the following 6 tips to your family.
- Bring up the topic of "bad things." No matter how protective you are, your children know something bad is taking place in the world today. Listening to what they say will allow you to clarify any misinformation they have. Like Dorothy, the scary lion she imagined was far worse than he actually was. Talking about terrorism will help calm unnecessary fears they have. You might say something like "Terrorism is not everywhere. There are many more good people than bad. Just know, our home is safe and we are safe."