How do you explain something like the Paris or Brussels attacks to a child? This book could help both children and parents.

Millions of parents across the globe struggle to explain to their children the horrific events that happen in Paris, Brussels, Ankara, Jakarta, Istanbul, Beirut, Grand-Bassam, Yaounde, Mogadishu, Ouagadougou, Lahore, etc. Since other children or adults at school will probably mention them or talk about them, how do you explain something like that to a child?

For a children’s author, this has to be the most difficult piece to write. After hours trying to put into easy words various feelings and images he had seen from TV footage and internet reports, J.N. PAQUET eventually wrote a story, which he thinks might help children and parents when such terrible events happen.

The text of the story is as specific and at the same time as general as possible, so that it could be read to any child anywhere, because terrorism acts are not confined to one location only.

ADVICE TO PARENTS:

Sometimes, what we imagine can be worse than what we actually see. That’s why expressing our feeling through writing or drawing can help free our mind, and so, help us to move on.

It is crucial that children can talk about their feelings following these senseless killings, and are given reassurance and support. (Peter Wanless / Chief executive of the NSPCC)

If you are still unsure what to say or what to do to explain something like a terrorist attack to your children, follow the NSPCC advice to parents on talking about difficult topics: www.nspcc.org.uk/talkingtips

For more advice you may also watch the video How should you talk to your children about terrorism www.thetimes.co.uk/nspcc/

Finally, for more information, visit the NSPCC website: www.nspcc.org.uk

(The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) is a charity campaigning and working in child protection in the United Kingdom and the Channel Islands.)