With the earthquake in Haiti on our minds, I refer you to this excellent article by Thomas Haller and Chick Moorman on talking to your kids about this tragedy (click on the words below).
Explaining World Tragedy to Children
I love how the authors of this excellent article (as well as numerous books about parenting) say to…
…encourage your children to look for the helpers. Helpers always come.
If you donate to relief efforts include your children in the check writing or key-board-clicking. Talk about what helpers you’ve had in your life. (Has anyone ever brought you a casserole?)
Ask them to be on the look-out for helpers in their lives. Point out when someone lets you cut in line with your car (or when you allow someone else in!) Teach them the language: “I’m being a helper” or “There’s a helper!”
As Haller and Moorman say,
Let them see and be love in action.
Where have you seen love in action?
Photo credits:
Helpers at the Jan. 2010 earthquake in Haiti, originally uploaded by the United Nations Development Programme, who licensed this photo on Flickr under a Creative Commons License.
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