There's a terrorist under my bed

American Fitness, Sept-Oct, 2003

Elizabeth Fellows still has vivid and disturbing memories from graphic Vietnam War television coverage. "The evening news showed the attacks, the killings; the war [was] taking place in front of me," says the mother of four. "I don't want my children exposed to that type of violence day in and day out. They will know what's going on with the war in Iraq [and] on terrorism, but I will not expose them to that kind of relentless coverage."

That's a smart decision, says Barbara Felt, M.D., a developmental behavioral pediatrician at the University of Michigan Health System. "Disturbing images like we see on news programs that run the same footage every 15 minutes can be disastrous for children," she explains. "However, television and other media do have their place in helping our children deal with the larger issues taking place in the world and possibly their own communities."

"It's useful when important events are taking place--that we know our children will hear about in other contexts, such as school--to make sure they have accurate information," Felt advises. She suggests parents tape the news, preview it and use portions as a backdrop for family discussions.

In these uncertain times of war and terrorism, Felt strongly urges parents to set aside time to come together as a family to provide support and structure. "Families in which members have been doing their own thing may want to rethink their priorities and make family time to discuss these issues," she says.