How to Teach Kids About September 11 Without Scaring Them

Posted on September 11, 2023September 7, 2023

How to Teach Kids About September 11 Without Scaring Them

The terror attacks that happened on September 11, 2001, are shocking and emotionally disturbing for adults, let alone for a little brain in development. So, how to teach kids about September 11 without scaring them?

It’s completely understandable to have worries when it comes to teaching dark periods of history to little kids. Whether you’re a homeschool tutor, or a teacher in preschool, elementary, or middle school, this task remains a big challenge. Researching the best way to approach the topic of 9/11 is a smart idea and means you truly care about your students’ wellbeing.

Today, we are fortunate because advancements in child psychology have helped us better understand how kids process traumatic events. With this knowledge in mind, we created a simple guide that will help you teach kids about September 11 without scaring them. Keep reading to find out what are the best, safest approaches for kids of all ages.

When to Introduce the Topic Of September 11?

Talking about 9/11 in a kindergarten classroom might not seem like a good idea. In fact, being nervous and wanting to protect children from such horrors is completely normal. However, the truth is that speaking to kids about September 11 as early as kindergarten might be a necessity.

The reason for this is that the events of that day were, and still are, heavily covered by the media worldwide. Sooner or later the child will hear or see something. After all, 9/11 wasn’t just an isolated event. It also set in motion a war, the effects of which are still being felt and played out today. Therefore, if the subject is avoided the child will make assumptions and try to fill in the blanks, which could end up in them thinking there’s still something to be scared of, or that they and the people they care about could be under threat.

While we can’t keep them in the dark (because this can make things a lot worse), we can make sure they find out in a safe way. To do this, you first must find out whether and what they already know and clear any misconceptions. After this, we’ve laid out a step-by-step teaching strategy you can follow with kids of all ages, including preschoolers.

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How to Teach Kids About September 11 Without Scaring Them

How to Teach Kids About September 11 Without Scaring Them

When to Introduce the Topic Of September 11?

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