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September 11 Again

The Reality for Kids with Language or Mental Impairment

Sep 11, 2006 Lynn Moore

Many children with special needs have difficulty distinguishing between a TV news clip of current news and events from the past. Tips for parents and educators.

September 11 is still fresh in our minds. TV footage brings back the details which we fought hard to overcome. Parents of many children with special needs have an additional battle: teaching the difference between a current event and something that happened in the past.

Children with Mental Impairment Although kids with lower cognitive impairment may not be able to grasp the time difference, many will understand the horror of the fire, smoke, and events of 9-11.

Consider the following:

Basic words: finished, all done, not now, before, long time ago
Show publications of before and after pictures. The sad, yet stable, current pictures will communicate that the immediate danger has passed.
Use this opportunity to teach about community helpers. Show pictures of fire fighters, policemen, and medical personnel (not necessarily in the battle of the moment, but general pictures) and explain: A firefighter (doctor, etc.) can help. Although this may seem like oversimplification it will be teaching a healthy response in an emergency.
Talk about emotions: I am sad. The man (woman, etc.) is sad (hurt, crying, scared, etc.). Things happen in life that are tragic. Children need words to express their feelings.
Avoid viewing the news if you think that communication will be too difficult.

Children with Language Impairment

Consider the following:

Use the above list as appropriate for your child.
Draw a timeline with years. Show the child a picture of himself then and now. . . Say: Five years ago. Now is different. Then do the same with then and now pictures of 9/11.
Consider the following resource: 9/11 to the Iraq War:Using Books to Help Children Understand Troubled Times by Mary Taylor Rycik, available from Amazon as a download.
Be prepared to repeat the above again and again. Children with language disabilities attempt to understand our confusing world through what they see. Your child may need lots of repetition to feel assured that 9/11 is a horrible event of the past.

My next article:

TV: Fantasy or Reality for Children with Language Disabilities

The copyright of the article September 11 Again in Special Needs Parenting is owned by Lynn Moore. Permission to republish September 11 Again in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.