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‘Are terrorists bad boys?’

Photo: K.R. Deepak

Reaching out Instil confidence and hope, not fear

When and how? Post 26/11, parents are faced with this predicament, when it comes to having a heart-to-heart talk about security with their children. With enhanced safety measures and schools gearing up to a different kind of security drill, the 8-12- year-olds find themselves in a confused and disturbed mode. Manjula, a housewife has been consumed with anxiety ever since she had a small talk with her nine-year-old. “I tried to teach him vital safety points but his statement just puzzled me. He asked: ‘when I don’t clean the room, you call me a bad boy. So, am I a terrorist?”

Even as a friendly e-mail by ‘Save the Children’ organisation lists out tips to help children to cope with terror trauma, psychiatrists and counsellors, say parents need to exercise caution while driving home the safety message. Says counsellor Zenobia Rustomfram, “It’s important that parents follow a balanced approach and help their children express their feelings. Instil hope and confidence not fears in them. An overdose of information and constant TV viewing needs to be cut down.”

The psychological impact of these disturbing images is deep and can have some adverse results, she says. “When parents panic and appear to be helpless, children, who are imaginary by nature, may cook up negative things.”

Minahaj Nasirabadi, a psychiatrist, has started a new experiment. He allows his three-year-old to watch only Cartoon shows. “Parents have to filter the programmes and take care that the little ones are not exposed to too much TV,” he says.

Echoing his sentiments is G. Prasad Rao, who supports his statement with a study done in Delhi in the past three weeks. “The study found that children, who constantly watch violence on TV are angry, restless and and lack concentration. They have also been found with abdominal and leg pain,” says the doctor.

At Nasr school in Khairatabad, regular sessions on security and discipline have had many takers.

“The students are all charged up and some are very angry about the Mumbai terror attacks. We have to counsel them that anger is not the solution.

We explain the different dos and don’ts to be followed by children but make sure that some kind of phobia is not created,” says principal Madhubala Kapoor.

The new security set-up at Oakridge International School is on par with a corporate office. Increased number of security guards including lady guards, CCTVs, screening of visitors, wireless systems in school buses is part of their safety schedule.

While there were plans to have a metal detector, the school dropped the idea when the city police did not make it compulsory. “Parents are happy and want more security measures to be adopted by the school,” says Col. Y.S. Ravindranath, bursar of the school. These security initiatives will be part of the school’s expenditure but the cost of swipe cards, which the school hopes to introduce by next year, will be borne by the parents.

As the need for surveillance increases, also in demand are counsellors who can provide solace to the young minds.

Says Myriam Siddham, a counsellor with an International School: “Security measures have to be explained to kids in a casual way so they do not get bogged with the fear of unknown. Children also get anxious when they see people, who are not in control of a situation.”

NEERAJA MURTHY

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