From Child Care and Development Division, Children's Defense Fund, Washington, DC

• Continuously reassure your children that you will help to keep them safe.
• Turn off the TV. Overexposure to the media can be traumatizing. If your older children are watching the news, be sure to watch with them.
• Be aware that your child's age will affect his or her response. Adolescents in particular may be hard hit by these kinds of events. Obtaining counseling for a child or adolescent soon after a disaster may reduce long-term effects.
• Calmly express your emotions, but remember that a composed demeanor will provide a greater sense of security for your child.
• Give your children extra time and attention and plan to spend more time with your children in the following months.
• Let your children ask questions, talk about what happened, and express their feelings.
• Play with children who can't talk yet to help them work out their fears and respond to the atmosphere around them.
• Keep regular schedules for activities such as eating, playing and going to bed to help restore a sense of security and normalcy.
• Consider how you and your child can help. Children are better able to regain their sense of power and security if they feel they can help in some way.
• Also, check out these links.

American Academy of Pediatrics offers advice on communicating with children about disasters

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry - press release about coping with disasters (this PDF file requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)

American Psychological Association - "Resilience in a Time of War" and other articles about resilience and managing stress

The Parent Center - How to talk to your kids about the terrorist attacks

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry - Helping children and adolescents after a disaster

FEMA Offers Advice On How To Talk To Children About Terrorist Attacks - from the Federal Emergency Management Agency