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What to Tell Kids About Sniper

Aired October 23, 2002 - 11:21   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Talking about children, we've been getting many e-mails from parents this morning asking what they should tell their children, if they should send their children to school.
That's why we have Gail here, our child development expert. Let's put up an e-mail right now so that we can pass it on to Gail. This is from Brian in Oklahoma City: "As a parent, we need to ensure we listen to our children's thoughts on these sad events as they occur. We live in Oklahoma City. And our 11-year-old has reservations about walking to her friend's house, which is only three houses away."

What do you tell your children, Gail?

GAIL GROSS, CHILD DEVELOPMENT EXPERT: You sit down and really reconnect with your children, listen to their fears and then create new strategies for this period of time. A new normal. And in a sense, what you want to do is have precaution and balance. You want to restore calm, have some plan that you develop with your child by enlisting them in the discovery of what is safe.

COSTELLO: When you talk about a plan, please be specific for us. What should the plan say?

GROSS: Well, for example, in this period of time, I don't know that I would have my child be outdoors. I would find a safe place for them to play indoors. I'd collaborate with other parents and have children go in ways that are safe: back doors to schools, schools that have security around them, play in the gym instead of in someone's home. I would find ways that really have to do with changing the rules just for this period of time.

COSTELLO: Got you.

GROSS: Instead of empowering this sniper, I would take back my power and just find another way to deal with this problem for our children, because they're going to take their cue from us: If we're secure and feel they will be protected by us, they'll feel they will be protected by us.

COSTELLO: We understand.

Let's get to another e-mail, because we're a little short on time. This one has no name, but it is very interesting. It says, "I have been asked by some of my friends that live in Maryland and Virginia what should they do: Should they leave for awhile and wait for the police to catch this madman, or should they go on with their lives and not let this lunatic affect their daily lives?"

GROSS: Well, there is a balance there. There are new rules. It doesn't have to be an either/or. There are choices to be made. Each family has to make them for themselves, but really there is a lot that can be done that is safe, that they can do. And it's different ways of transporting their children, different ways of playing. Really connecting with their children, making decisions about different places to go to school, different ways of going to school.

GROSS: All right, Gail. Thank you very much.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired October 23, 2002 - 11:21   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Talking about children, we've been getting many e-mails from parents this morning asking what they should tell their children, if they should send their children to school.
That's why we have Gail here, our child development expert. Let's put up an e-mail right now so that we can pass it on to Gail. This is from Brian in Oklahoma City: "As a parent, we need to ensure we listen to our children's thoughts on these sad events as they occur. We live in Oklahoma City. And our 11-year-old has reservations about walking to her friend's house, which is only three houses away."

What do you tell your children, Gail?

GAIL GROSS, CHILD DEVELOPMENT EXPERT: You sit down and really reconnect with your children, listen to their fears and then create new strategies for this period of time. A new normal. And in a sense, what you want to do is have precaution and balance. You want to restore calm, have some plan that you develop with your child by enlisting them in the discovery of what is safe.

COSTELLO: When you talk about a plan, please be specific for us. What should the plan say?

GROSS: Well, for example, in this period of time, I don't know that I would have my child be outdoors. I would find a safe place for them to play indoors. I'd collaborate with other parents and have children go in ways that are safe: back doors to schools, schools that have security around them, play in the gym instead of in someone's home. I would find ways that really have to do with changing the rules just for this period of time.

COSTELLO: Got you.

GROSS: Instead of empowering this sniper, I would take back my power and just find another way to deal with this problem for our children, because they're going to take their cue from us: If we're secure and feel they will be protected by us, they'll feel they will be protected by us.

COSTELLO: We understand.

Let's get to another e-mail, because we're a little short on time. This one has no name, but it is very interesting. It says, "I have been asked by some of my friends that live in Maryland and Virginia what should they do: Should they leave for awhile and wait for the police to catch this madman, or should they go on with their lives and not let this lunatic affect their daily lives?"

GROSS: Well, there is a balance there. There are new rules. It doesn't have to be an either/or. There are choices to be made. Each family has to make them for themselves, but really there is a lot that can be done that is safe, that they can do. And it's different ways of transporting their children, different ways of playing. Really connecting with their children, making decisions about different places to go to school, different ways of going to school.

GROSS: All right, Gail. Thank you very much.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com