What do I tell them? How do I explain the latest chain of events in Paris?

Peace will prevail! Processing the nightmare of the Paris attacks is tough enough for grownups, never mind for our children. However, we cannot bury our heads in the sand. Children will want an explanation from us as parents and teachers. We haven’t spoke to the children en masse because, to be honest, a complete explanation is not entirely possible or easy. Having said this, we must try! We must find a balance on the one hand between helping a child feel safe and on the other acknowledging the existence of violence, evil, and danger in the world. This must be done in a manner appropriate to the child's ability to understand.the Paris attacks NOTE: To change images on this slide, select a picture and delete it. Then click the Insert Picture icon in the placeholder to insert your own image.

Caption NOTE: To change images on this slide, select a picture and delete it. Then click the Insert Picture icon in the placeholder to insert your own image. As parents and teachers, we should think through our own understanding of what happened, as difficult as that might be. It is important to say that we really don't know the people involved or their circumstances. We only know details selected by the media. This is a chance to discuss with children how to evaluate what they see in the media and how important it is to know a lot more before making judgements. It is also a chance to discuss politics, prejudice, and the use of violence to solve problems or resolve disputes. A discussion of faith and morality can include how evil can coexist with good in this world and how we make our choices.

Good triumphs over evil! Children should be prompted to identify how much safety there is in their lives, how much they know about their own parents' love and devotion to them. They can review good times, birthdays and Christmas. They can be reminded of getting hugs when feeling down, ill or injured. They can be assured that when a parent is angry, it is self limiting and passes quickly. This is a chance to discuss with children how anger can be a normal feeling and describe appropriate ways of expressing it. With older children who can understand finer distinctions you can discuss how a healthy relationship is one in which rifts can be repaired and healed.

What will we as a school tell them? Everyone’s talking about the tragedy in Paris because that’s what people do when they are shocked. It’s natural. Those that carried out the attacks firmly believe that violence will bring them the result they are searching for. They are of the muslim faith and try to justify their behaviour by saying that their acts of violence is what their God wants of them. Some people in society will now claim that all Muslims are bad but of course that is not true. Everyone wants to remember the people who died, and their grieving families and we do this by having the minute’s silence, and lighting candles in their memory. But attacks like this are very rare. The terrorists want to frighten people into changing the way we live and the best way to fight them is to behave normally. We know from history that there are many people who have changed the course of history by peaceful means, Gandhi, Mandela etc So, we need to be accepting of fear: we all have to live with it. But we will encourage your children to develop a sense of proportion, to think about the nature of risk. Here is a link to a leaflet devised by the French government:

What does our faith tell us at times like this? God of Peace, help us to live in peace, understand you and be like you. Help people who are committed to peace to keep on acting for good. Help people who are fighting to stop doing what is wrong and to be healed. We make our prayer in the name of your Son, Jesus, our Lord. Amen

“Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us”