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The anniversary of September 11 is only days away and media coverage is intensifying. Julie Dunsmore, a developmental psychologist at Hamilton College, advises parents, "Turn the television off. Don't let your kids watch footage from September 11."  She explains, "Children, particularly young children, can't tell it's footage from a year ago, not something that's currently happening."  In her study of children following the events of September 11, Dunsmore found that children who watched television footage were less able to cope with what happened and had more negative reactions to the attacks.
 
Dunsmore conducted a 6-week follow-up interview after the plane crashing into the twin towers footage was televised constantly. She says, "My opinion is that seeing that over and over just kept re-exposing the children."

What should parents do?  Dunsmore says, "Talk to your children. It could be as simple as asking them, 'What are you thinking about what happened on September 11?'" In her study, Dunsmore found that in addition to parents being available for children's questions, teachers' discussions were also helpful.

In the weeks following September 11 there were many community activities that children were aware of and could participate in—collecting money, socks for rescue workers, wearing red, white and blue. Dunsmore suggests that for the anniversary, parents think of something concrete that children can do. She says, "Find something that will make them feel they have made a contribution. It could be raising money for poor children internationally or you could encourage your children to rake an elderly neighbor's lawn as something they can do to make the world a better place."
 

Julie Dunsmore, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology, Hamilton College, is available for media interviews jdunsmor@hamilton.edu or by calling Sharon Rippey, media relations, 315-859-4680.

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