On Halloween: Questions and Answers

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Click on the questions below to find the answer and the expert who provided it:

Immediate and Short Term

1. Should we dwell, or get on with our normal routines? 2. How much information should we share? 3. What about the danger of overexposure through TV or other media? 4. How much should a child be told?5. What if I'm too distraught to talk about it?

6. How do I explain why?7. What immediate behavioral and emotional reactions can I expect?8. Should I keep my children at home if they seem abnormally upset?9. How do I know if my child needs professional help?10. How to answer: "What happened to the people?"

11. Could talking upset my child more?12. Is it better not to talk if my children are not interested?13. How can I get my children to communicate what they're feeling?14. How important is reassurance (about working, flying, etc., at a time like this)?15. What can I do to make my child feel safe?

16. What if I have kids of different ages or who are responding differently?17. How do I start a conversation and understand what my child's thinking? 18. How do I help a child re-establish a sense of control?19. Is there such a thing as too young to talk about this?20. How do I answer, "Are my mommy and daddy safe?"

21. Should I worry about children playing "games" that seem like re-enactments? 22. Do I need to worry if my child reverts to younger behavior? 23. How do I answer my adolescent's question, "Will this lead to a world war?" 24. How can I help my child cope with a shattered sense of national security? 25. What signs should I look for in my children to tell if they've been truly affected by this tragedy?

26. My child has already had serious trauma in the past. Do I need to worry? 27. How do I handle my own anxiety? 28. How to share in a child's emotional state? 29. Can spirituality help? 30. How can I help my teenager to sleep?

31. How can I immediately help a child if they have lost a loved one? 32. How do I answer questions I don't have the answers to? 33. How do I explain to my child why Palestinian children are seen celebrating? 34. What can you tell the children of military families?

Longer Term

1. How can I tell when a grieving child needs professional help? 2. How would I recognize if my child has become depressed or unduly anxious?3. Should we talk about world events at bedtime?4. What can I do if my child has persistent problems?5. What can I do long term to make my child feel safe?

6. How can an adult respond to a child's distasteful behavior?7. How can I help a child long term if they have lost a loved one?8. How can we keep from justifying retributional violence?9. What if my child asks why other people hate us?10. What can I do as a parent if my child is harassed?

11. What can I do as a parent if my child harasses another child?12. What can I do as a parent if I learn my child's friend has been harassed?13. How can I prevent my children from becoming prejudiced?14. Are there any books I can give my child to help him or her understand what has happened?15. How can children begin to understand such complicated issues?