Monitor on Psychology - September 2011 - (Page 71)

APA and Nickelodeon team up to help parents answer children’s questions about 9/11 f Linda Ellerbee has her way, news coverage of the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks will not only teach young Americans more about the attacks, it will also provide kids with the opportunity to get the facts, ask questions and express their fears. Ellerbee, an award-winning journalist, is the host of the Nickelodeon channel’s “Nick News with Linda Ellerbee.” Nickelodeon and APA have teamed up to provide resources for adults to help children who may struggle with the renewed focus on the 9/11 tragedy. “Nick News” is a 30-minute current events program created for 8-to-14-year-olds. Its 9/11 anniversary segment, “What Happened? The Story of September 11, 2001,” broadcast Sept. 1, features young adults talking about their 9/11 experiences and pre-teens asking questions about what happened that day. “After talking to kids about 9/11, we knew we needed to do a show to give them an accurate portrayal of what happened and why, and some perspective on the events,” Ellerbee says. “I was a child of the Cold War,” she says. “I lived terrified that the Russians were going to drop the bomb. We even practiced for it in school. No one ever talked to me about those fears. I simply had to carry them around.” If the patterns seen after the 9/11 attacks repeat themselves, most children will take the renewed focus in stride. But for some, it may create anxieties. The APA/ Nick News materials are designed to supplement the broadcast and provide parents and other caregivers Award-winning journalist Linda Ellerbee hosts “What Happened? The with information and tips on what adults can do to Story of September 11, 2001. APA and Nick News teamed up to provide ” help children who have a worried reaction to the media parents with advice on how to talk to kids about the 9/11 anniversary. coverage. “For most children across the U.S., 9/11 wasn’t According to Gurwitch, children who had a traumatic particularly upsetting in the long term,” says trauma researcher response to the events in 2001 and those who have a family Roxane Cohen Silver, PhD, a professor in the department of member serving in the military overseas are at somewhat higher psychology and social behavior at the University of California– risk for a traumatic response to the anniversary coverage. “For Irvine. “Except for those children who were directly exposed to these kids, it will be important for parents and other caregivers the event, or lost a loved one, the effects were fairly transient.” to listen for these concerns and answer questions honestly and Still, some kids may have questions about the 9/11 coverage in an age-appropriate way,” Gurwitch advises. or experience stress as a result, according to Robin Gurwitch, “What Happened? The Story of September 11, 2001” is slated PhD, of the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital National Center to air Thursday, Sept. 1, at 9 p.m. Following its premiere, will be for School Crisis and Bereavement. Gurwitch, who has available on iTunes as a free podcast and in Nickelodeon’s videoworked extensively with APA and the American Red Cross on on-demand offerings for the month of September. information materials to assist parents and other caregivers The APA/Nick News materials for parents, caregivers and help children with psychological issues after a traumatic event, educators are accessible on the Web at www.APA.org, www. authored the “Nick News” program’s supplemental materials. TheBigHelp.com — Nick’s prosocial online hub — and “Most kids are resilient,” says Gurwitch. “That’s the good www.ParentsConnect.com, the network’s online resource for news. But, for those kids who have questions or concerns parenting advice and community. n spurred by the coverage of the anniversary, support from a parent or other family member or caregiver will be important.” —R. FARBERMAN SEPTEMBER 2011 • MONITOR ON PSYCHOLOGY 71 I http://www.APA.org http://www.TheBigHelp.com http://www.TheBigHelp.com http://www.ParentsConnect.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Monitor on Psychology - September 2011

Monitor on Psychology - September 2011
Letters
President’s Column
Contents
From the CEO
Supreme Court hears psychologists on prison and video game cases
Antipsychotics are overprescribed in nursing homes
New MCAT likely to recognize the mind-body connection
A $2 million boost for military and families
In Brief
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS UPDATE
On Your Behalf
Judicial Notebook
Random Sample
TIME CAPSULE
QUESTIONNAIRE
Speaking of Education
SCIENCE WATCH
An uncertain future for American workers
Advocating for psychotherapy
PRACTICE PROFILE
ETHICALLY SPEAKING
Seared in our memories
Helping kids cope in an uncertain world
APA and Nickelodeon team up
Muslims in America, post 9/11
Bin Laden’s death
‘They expect us to be there’
Answering the call of public policy
Candidates answer final questions
APA News
Division Spotlight
New leaders
AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL FOUNDATION
Disaster relief training
Honoring teaching excellence
Personalities

Monitor on Psychology - September 2011