Skip to main content

How to Educate Kids on September 11th

Find this coloring page @ supercoloring.com


I know we all probably have a distinct recollection of where we were on September 11th, 2011. So, I won't go into where I was or what I was doing. I will say that, for the rest of my life I will always know how those events that day changed things for our country and many of the people living in it.

Two of my three children had not yet come into the world (one of them had ten days til her debut). So, for them, they get the 9/11 memories and stories second hand.

I imagine that they get the gist though: terrorists, deaths, twin towers, New York City...

Today, if you're looking for ways to explain to your child what today is, and don't exactly know how, you might want to consider these ideas:

-Wait for them to ask (especially if they are young, and attend school- they will 'hear things' then have questions for you).

-Pray with them for the lives lost, the parentless children who are this world now trying to be positive for their future and hopefully going to grow up to also make a positive difference in the world as a result of it.

-Don't run to Youtube just jet. Talk about 9/11 first. Before you implant the horrific images of the planes entering the twin towers in New York City, take some time to discuss what happened to the people, what is going on with our country and educate them first on the topic/issues rather than making it about the visual drama and devastation. For younger kids, they worry easily and showing kids under the age of nine, these videos can needlessly add anxiety to their day (as will any other terrifying video). Today and every other 9/11 will be more for the memory of those who died rather than those who caused the destruction.

-Look for age appropriate books to read, based on the events of 9/11

-If your children are young enough, go to this website and print out the photo above and talk with them or allow them to ask questions while you color this candle and ribbon.

-Appreciate today. Hope for tomorrow, and remind your kids that terrorists (whether from another country or our own) are just bullies. And bullies don't deserve our fear.

This I'm sure will open up a whole bunch of other things to talk about.


On September 11th, 2001, I stared at the TV in shock, just like you did, probably wondering the same things...'What is this world coming to?' I had already decided to become a parent by then (my daughter was four). I patted my second daughter in my womb and thought that I absolutely might be crazy for I  having more children, but I had hope it would get better. I braved it again to have my third and last child a son.

Some days I carry on with my life and don't worry about the state of the world (those are the best days).
Other times, when I see violence, cruelty and poverty, I shake my head at the possibility that the next generations  might have it much worse than we do...

But, I can't stay there for long. I have to be their hope, I must be their light... and so are you.
We must instill the love of life and positive hopes for better days and use horrible events like these to teach and motivate us to be the change we want to see happen in the world.

Thank you for reading and peace be with those who lost their lives in the events of 9/11 and the families who were left to pick up the pieces and carry on.

Other Family Matter Blog Posts on September 11th 2001:









Popular posts from this blog

Back to School Anxiety: Bullying

Download “School Boy Being Stressed” by David Castillo Dominici via freedigitalphotos.net I recently wrote about how to help your child if they’re struggling with going back to school because they were bullied. My biggest most important tip was to listen, because I honestly could not write a ‘How-to-make-them-not-afraid’ column. Frankly I thought that was absurd. Fear is sometimes real. Anxiety is sometimes truly there, and for a good reason. Our job as parents isn’t to try to make it go away, it’s to try to find out the true source of those worrisome feelings. If you’d like to read more, click here. And if you’re child is struggling to find excitement about the new school year, don’t deny it, just accept it and move forward gently. Here’s some more on bullying: Family Matters Links: A Touching Story/Song Bullying: A thing of the past A Peace Poem By My Teenage Daughter A Deeper Insight into My Thoughts on People Who Bring Harm to Others Other Links: Stop Bul

Green Punch Buggy....!!!!

Green Punch Buggy...No Punch Back! As I was writing this blog post, my son came to me showing off his Lego creation. And don't you know I got hit at least five times since on my computer screen was displaying at least five different punch buggies, of five different colors thanks to Google Images. (Bad timing I'm thinking...) How can we possibly have world peace with these silly cars in the world!? ;) Don't the owners of these cute-but-obnoxious-cars understand that driving these things around town promotes violence!? ;) Anyhow.... The original purpose of this blog was to ask parents everywhere this question: Do you find yourself saying 'PUNCH BUGGY *BLANK-COLOR*! '  to yourself, even when the kids are not in the car??? I do! Isn't it funny how those games we used to play as a child are still around? I bet our parents say the same thing.... HAPPY FRIIIIIIDAAAAYYYY! P.S. I got hit at least ten more times, since as my son stood beside

Good Customer Service At Home

Over the years, my careers have mainly been customer service based. I started in a family business and then moved on up through the rungs from waitress, to hostess, to sales associate, manager and eventually the GM of a hotel. In all my years, my training taught me that you should always do your best to take your customer all the way to what they need, make them happy, and never leave them until they are done with you. I pride myself on my customer service abilities. Though the other day, I think I failed at customer service in my own home! I was getting ready to cut my daughter's hair and because of how long it had gotten (she's been growing it out for a year!) I felt this time it would be best  if instead of me spritzing it with water, she could wash and condition it real quick. She was fully clothed so I just suggested she run into the bathroom and wash her hair in the tub. She’s fourteen. I suppose I just assumed that she knew how to kneel over the tub and do it.