Talking to Kids about Haiti, and where to donate

Ideas about what to say and do

~ Listen to what they have to say - what have they heard & seen so far? The aim is not to worry them with the devastating details, but to protect them from misinformation

~ Give them simple, clear answers. If you don't know the answer, say that and look for the answer together

~ Help them to feel safe, don't brush away their fears - help to dispel them

~ Give them creative outlets: draw pictures, pound on pots & pans, move their bodies like an earthquake

~ Show them where Haiti is on a world map

~ The earthquake in Haiti is an opportunity to for children to gain a sense of empathy for children from different parts of the world and cultures different from their own

~ It's important for children to understand that not all countries of the world are like America. Some people don't have sturdy homes or food or fresh water or clean clothes or toys. They've never see a TV or the internet

~ Children develop a sense of awareness, sensitivity and charity by knowing these things

~ Don't let them watch TV news coverage alone, sit with them, monitor their response and answer questions. Ask them how what they're seeing makes them feel.

~ Open, yet non-frightening discussions about how fragile life is, the responsibility of privelege, and charity are appropriate for older children

~ Do something concrete - gather a box of unused clothes and toys and take them to a donation center, collect change from family and friends and send to UNICEF, etc., participate in a local relief effort

~ Encourage a sense of humanity, awareness and empathy

Please consider donating to one of these organizations:

~ Red Cross = Text “HAITI” to “90999″ to donate $10

~ Doctors Without Borders = www.doctorswithoutborders.org/donate/

~ Donate to Partners in Health = www.donate.pih.org

~ Architecture for Humanity = www.architectureforhumanity.org/donate

~ charity:water = www.charitywater.org/donate

~ World Vision = you can pick exactly where you want your donation used http://donate.worldvision.org/OA_HTML/xxwv2ibeCCtpSctDspRte.jsp?section=10820