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How to talk to kids about terrorism
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Like it or not, we live in a world where terrorism happens, with fatal results. - photo by istockphoto.com/jaminwell
Chandra Johnson
Deseret News National
Updated: Oct 2, 2014, 9:00 AM
Published: Sep 29, 2014, 8:10 PM

With stories about public beheadings and how to deal with terrorists like the Islamic State group dominating the news this summer, parents may wonder how the coverage affects their children.

Here are some ways parents can address children's fears and help them process what they see and hear about terrorism:

1. Make sure they're ready

Most children will ask their parents to explain things like 9/11 or the Boston Marathon bombing to them, but other signs that young people need help processing include persistent nightmares or a sudden fascination with violence, says Dr. Robin Goodman, director of A Caring Hand, a charity organization dedicated to addressing childhood trauma and grief.
Parents can initiate a conversation with their children about these changes but should respect children's resistance to talking about it until they're ready.

"Answering questions and addressing fears does not necessarily happen all at once," Goodman wrote in an article for parenting website About Our Kids. "New issues may arise or become apparent over time and thus discussion about war should be done on an ongoing and as needed basis."

2. Don't give in to blame

It's easy for adults to feel frustrated about terrorist groups seeming to get away with murder overseas or the politics of taking action. But parents shouldn't present their opinions as absolutes, Goodman said.

"Feeling their opinion is wrong or misunderstood can cause children to disengage from dialogue or make them feel they are bad or stupid," Goodman wrote.

Psychiatrists Eugene Beresin and Steve Schlozman of the Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds said that parents should keep their own anxiety in check when talking to children.

"Kids mirror their parents’ feelings, and that’s not always a great thing in these circumstances," they wrote in 2013.

3. Safety first

Long-winded explanations about terrorism are less important to a child than establishing a sense of safety, Beresin and Schlozman said.

"They’re most of all ready to be reassured, so help your kids to appreciate the fact that they are, indeed, safe," they wrote. "Just knowing that all is well in the present is sometimes enough for a little kid, and don’t be surprised if Tommy goes back to playing with his trucks again."

Goodman also recommends talking about how the government or the military keeps citizens safe to give children a concrete picture of safety.

4. Simplify

While there's no need to lie to children about the threat of terrorism, it's important to help them put it in perspective. "What if" scenarios can lead to more nightmares and exacerbate fears, Goodman said, so try to avoid them.

Also, remember that most kids under 10 subscribe to an "all or nothing" sense of the world, Beresin and Schlozman said, which means it's important for kids to understand the "good guy" to "bad guy" ratio.

"Tommy is probably really wondering: How many more bad guys are out there?" Beresin and Schlozman wrote. "This is a good time to remind Tommy that there are a lot more good guys than bad guys in the world."

Email: chjohnson@deseretnews.com
Twitter: ChandraMJohnson
Its toxic: New study says blue light from tech devices can speed up blindness
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A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers. - photo by Herb Scribner
Herb Scribner
Deseret News
Published: Aug 13, 2018, 1:39 PM
It turns out checking Twitter or Facebook before bed is bad for your health.

A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers.

That process can lead to age-related macular degeneration, which is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, according to the researchs extract.

Blue light is a common issue for many modern Americans. Blue light is emitted from screens, most notably at night, causing sleep loss, eye strain and a number of other issues.

Dr. Ajith Karunarathne, assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, said our constant exposure to blue light cant be blocked by the lens or cornea.

"It's no secret that blue light harms our vision by damaging the eye's retina. Our experiments explain how this happens, and we hope this leads to therapies that slow macular degeneration, such as a new kind of eye drop, he said.

Macular degeneration is an incurable eye disease that often affects those in their 50s or 60s. It occurs after the death of photoreceptor cells in the retina. Those cells need retinal to sense light and help signal the brain.

The research team found blue light exposure created poisonous chemical molecules that killed photoreceptor cells

"It's toxic. If you shine blue light on retinal, the retinal kills photoreceptor cells as the signaling molecule on the membrane dissolves," said Kasun Ratnayake, a Ph.D. student researcher working in Karunarathne's cellular photo chemistry group. "Photoreceptor cells do not regenerate in the eye. When they're dead, they're dead for good."

However, the researchers found a molecule called alpha-tocopherol, which comes from Vitamin E, can help prevent cell death, according to Futurism.

The researchers plan to review how light from TVs, cellphones and tablet screens affect the eyes as well.

"If you look at the amount of light coming out of your cellphone, it's not great but it seems tolerable," said Dr. John Payton, visiting assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. "Some cellphone companies are adding blue-light filters to the screens, and I think that is a good idea."

Indeed, Apple released a Night Shift mode two years ago to help quell blue lights strain on the eyes, according to The Verge. The screen will dim into a warmer, orange light that will cause less stress on the eyes.