• A War in Iraq:  Tackling Tough Issues with Kids—includes answers to parents’ common questions about what to tell your child about Saddam Hussein, whether to let your child watch TV, and how to know if your child needs further help.
• Talking to Children about Terrorism: By the Numbers—Age appropriate responses from Purdue University Extension.  Covers preschoolers through young adults.
• Coping in Unsettling Times—a number of topics from the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), including tips for students and parents in Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, and Vietnamese.
• Tragic Times, Healing Words—from Sesame Street Parents.  Contains developmentally appropriate responses to children’s fears.  Links to a list of books that may be helpful to read with your child.
  • Also in Spanish:  Palabras de Aliento en Tiempos de Tragedia
• Children’s Needs after a Disaster from the group Prepare/Respond/Recover has useful age-specific information on the following topics:
  • Recognizing Stress in Children—signs of stress in children by age group
  • Strategies for Parents and Teachers to Assist Children Who are Managing Stress—includes many developmentally appropriate suggested activities
  • Benefits of Play and Age-Specific Interventions—how to help kids use play to work out their feelings.
• Talking to Children about September 11^th—from U of M’s Richard Solomon, MD.
• My Book About The War And Terrorism: A Guided Activity Workbook for Children, Families and Teachers to promote healthy expression, learning and coping—you can download this 104 page kids’ book from the Children’s Psychological Health Center or purchase a hard copy for $17.00. The book includes a guide for how to use it in developmentally appropriate ways, straightforward explanations of history and current events related to the war in Iraq, and lots of space for kids to color, draw, and write down their ideas and feelings about the war, terrorism, and conflict.
• List of recommended books for children about death—from U of M Pediatrics.  Organized by age group.
• Ways Children Cope with Grief—from U of M Pediatrics.
• When a military parent is deployed.

Compiled by Kyla Boyse, R.N. Reviewed by faculty and staff at the University of Michigan

Updated June 2007

U-M Health System Related Sites:
Department of Psychiatry
U-M Pediatrics

Our editorial policy
The information and links we provide are reviewed by University of Michigan developmental and behavioral pediatricians and child psychologists who are experts in child behavioral health. In choosing the links we provide, we use strict criteria to ensure that the information is accurate, and the source is reputable. As much as possible, we focus on information that is based on research. In areas where there is inadequate research, we include information compatible with prevailing expert opinion.

This website is updated regularly, but because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, we cannot be responsible for misinformation that may be accessed through the links provided. As always, this website is not a tool for self-diagnosis, and is not a substitute for professional care.

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