Remembering September 11: For parents, teachers & kids

In the days immediately following the September 11, 2001 terrorism attacks, PBS pulled together resources to help educators teach students about peace, tolerance, war, patriotism, geography, and other related issues. Although time has passed, educators can continue to use these valuable resources to teach lessons on these important subjects.

During troubling times, we'd like to offer some thoughts that may be of help to you and the children in your care. Talking about our fears can often help make them less frightening. Our mission has always been to help families grow in healthy, nurturing ways, and we hope our messages can be of service to you.

Every year, the attacks of 9/11 recede further into the past. However, for those of us who lost someone close or otherwise experienced that day – whether in person or on television – thinking and talking about 9/11 may still evoke strong emotions that transport us back to the tragedy and can jar emotions long forgotten.

The 9/11 Memorial website provides answers to questions young people may ask, such as "Why did the terrorists attack the World Trade Center and the Pentagon?"

Use this collection of September 11-themed teaching resources to share with young people the importance of September 11, 2001, how it impacted individuals and the nation, and why it was a transformative moment in U.S. history.

The American Psychological Association has developed resources to help people cope and build resilience. This page provides links to some of these resources.

These materials were developed by federal grantees and agencies in commemoration of the tenth anniversary of September 11, 2001.

More needs to be done to help surviving parents and their children deal with grief, according to Chris Park, president of the New York Life Foundation.