I concur with Superintendent Bourgoin in his message to you yesterday in wishing you the best in dealing with this grievous loss for our nation. Real violence and tragedy is replayed on television almost as soon as it occurs. Sesame Street can be interrupted by a report of a sniper in an elementary school and news shows bring conflicts between other countries into American homes. Today's children also live in the world of Star Wars and Super Heroes. Luke Skywalker may be quickly relegated to the realm of fiction by adults, but for children this is not so easy.
Youngsters have difficulty separating reality and fantasy.
Children who believe in Santa Claus can as easily believe in Darth Vader and Freddie Kruger. These same children may have difficulty separating the realities of the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon from the fantasy of the media. Many American children are likely to have some personal connection to the victims of the September 11 th disasters. If a family member is not involved, a friend or a classmate's family members may be victims in some way. The fact that these events were not limited to one site further increases the fear that such an event could occur close to home.