Take your kiddo on a firehouse tour either of the next two Saturdays, and two things will happen, they’ll learn about safety, and they’ll have a good time.
The Corvallis Fire Department’s annual Open House & Safety Fair is an opportunity to meet local firefighters, and learn how they prepare for emergencies – and it’s also a chance to learn important fire safety behaviors. Two convenient dates, each at a different fire station:
11 am to 2 pm, Saturday, Oct. 21 at the downtown fire station, 400 NW Harrison Blvd.
11 am to 2 pm, Saturday, Oct. 28, at Station 6, 544 NW Lewisburg Ave.
Pumpkin Patch with a Cause: The folks at Kenagy Family Farm are doing another pumpkin patch fundraiser for Jackson Street and ABC House. Proceeds from October pumpkin sales go to the two organizations, and if you’re a longtime reader, you know we’re really hoping you’ll participate.
Jackson Street works to keep teens from going homeless, and offers sheltering services if needed. ABC House offers medical and counseling services for abused children, alongside abuse prevention education and support services.
Kenagy has pumpkins in 5 colors, squash, gourds, decorative corn, corn stalks and more. They’re open seven days a week from 10 am to 6 pm, and they’re located at 1650 NE North Nebergall Loop in Albany.
Talking to Children about War
Even as adults experienced with coping, these last several days of stories and images from the middle-east have cut us in places we forgot we had. And, then there are our children, catching only small shards of news and discussion – they are left to cope, minus the shields we grown-ups have developed.
So consider a hypothetical – what to say to the kiddo that asks, is there a war going on right now? And if they’re asking, they probably know something is up, and they’re somewhere between afraid or wondering if they should be.
So, what’s a parent to do? We’ve consulted a few experts, and the advice varies a little, but actually, there’s a surprising amount of consensus.
Help yourself first: You’ll be better equipped to help your kids on their own terms, if you’ve helped yourself first. Recognize what you’re feeling and thinking, and talk it out with friends and family. Evaluate the emotions that you feel would be best to express to your children, and how. It may be more helpful for children to know you’re sad or scared too – it is probably less helpful to vent anger.
Be proactive: Your kids have probably heard something already, and if they haven’t, they likely will. Start with open-ended questions. For instance, you could ask if they’ve heard anything about what’s happening in Israel and Gaza. If they haven’t, you can tell them they might, because some people are hurting each other there. In any event, assure your kiddo they’re safe, that the fighting is far away.
Have some facts: Instead of opinions, kids need facts, and they may have questions. So, if you’re telling your child the fighting is far away, it may help if they know it’s almost 7,000 miles away, which is more than twice as far as going across our whole country. Kids may want to know what the fighting is about, so try to keep the answer simple and short, and avoid opinion. Children may also want to know if someone is trying to get everyone to stop fighting too. Also, if you don’t know, it’s okay to say so – it helps kids to learn that not knowing happens to everyone.
Experts also caution not to generalize, talk about the actions of individuals or groups of individuals, but try to avoid saying all Palestinians or all Jews or all Israelis are to blame.
Limit media consumption: Try to consume news when younger kids are in bed or at school, and limit their exposure. While we’re on the subject, unless something is truly breaking news in real time, try to limit your own consumption of the war coverage to about 10 minutes, three times daily – like 10 minutes in the morning, and the same midday and in the evening.
Keep things status quo at home: Stick with the usual healthy routines and expectations you generally have at home. Kids need routine, and if they’re seeing you feel no need to depart from the status quo, that can be comforting in itself. On the other hand, do depart from that status quo if you’re seeing a little extra board game time, or other fun, would help.
Kids May Want to Help: If your children want to help the people in Israel and Gaza, work with them to find a group they can contribute to. Older children may want to volunteer or march. If you’re older children are involved with groups that have different views than you do, it’s important that they feel they can share what they’re doing with you without feeling judged.
Gratitude: Tomorrow is promised to nobody, and kids, like all of us, have an instinctive sense of that reality, and war points to this truth inexorably. Even under the best circumstances, it can be a struggle to balance a developing sense of security and a healthful empathetic acknowledgement of the fragility of life. If right now, you and yours are together and have your basic needs met, point that out, and express your appreciation to your children.
– By Advocate Staff
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