Reflecting on a week of devastation in the world
Naturally as adults we have a habit of keeping informed about worthy (and even non-news worthy) happenings and will have all been following the events of the past week from Turkey, Syria and the surrounding area. My experience is that this is a habit that children need encouragement to develop, and so I would ask “what have your children heard about the devastating earthquake that has accounted for over 17,000 lives so far?” When children reach Secondary school age it is a time where, as parents, we owe them a duty to bring such impactful news to their attention, and not just leave it to chance that they may pick up some facts along the way. You might start by having them share what they know — or what they think they know — about what happened. Then, invite them to read the latest account of the disaster from what you consider to be a reputable news source and answer basic comprehension questions, such as:
1. How big was the earthquake? How does it compare to others in the region?
2. What has been the impact on Turkey and Syria?
3. What have rescue efforts been like so far? How have they been complicated by the weather in the region?
4. There are several simultaneous crises compounding the damage in Turkey and Syria. What are they and how are they affecting the recovery from the quake?
To those in our community whose families have been directly affected by the unfolding disaster, please reach out and let us know how we can help.
