What to Do About the Anthrax Scares

        As if it weren't difficult enough to help our children cope with the news emanating from the terrorist attacks of September 11th,  we now have to deal with daily reports of anthrax being discovered, of people being infected, and of some people dying.  This is a very different sort of news story, because there is very little visual about it -- yet the emotions it generates and the potential implications for everyone make it potentially even more terrifying than the hijackings.

        In helping your child cope with this ever-evolving news story, keep in mind the age of your child and his or her information needs.  (Refer back to Helping Children Cope.)   It continues to be important to limit your child's exposure to television news and to provide information and reassurance yourself.  Relying on the calm, unequivocal, limited truthis important here.  Don't lie about this threat, but don't provide your child with more information than he or she needs to know.  Saying this is unlikely or rare is not likely to be that helpful.  Try giving whatever reassuring information is available, such as: we know what to look for now, mail is now being screened for anthrax, the antibiotics are working to cure people, etc.  As new information emerges, the reassuring arguments will also change.

        But the main thing to remember with this story as with the terrorist threat in general, is that you can help your child best by remaining calm yourself, by minimizing your family's exposure to television news, and by reassuring and calming your child.  Children have nothing to gain (and a lot to lose) by losing sleep at night and being filled with anxieties during the day.  (See Teddy's TV Troubles).
 

10/25/01