Children are exposed to the news in many ways, so it would be impossible to shelter them from reports of terrorist attacks when they occur. When talking with a child, it’s okay to agree that such attacks are frightening and sad, and that you can’t stop them happening.
Some children will feel targeted because of their faith. It’s important to look for signs of bullying, and make sure that they know they can talk with you about it, and reassure them it’s not their fault. Alert your child’s school so that they can be aware of the issue.
If a child makes offensive or unkind comments about another child’s faith or background in response to the terror attacks, calmly explain that comments like this are not acceptable. Help them to understand that someone’s beliefs do not make them a terrorist, and encourage them to think about how the other child would have felt. Extremists and terrorist organisations may be based on a political or religious ideology including white supremacy, as listed in government guidance.
