Moms Talk: Explaining Japan's Tragedy

An 8.9 magnitude earthquake caused a devastating tsunami to hit Japan March 11, leaving many parents with some difficult dinner table conversations to handle. With images and information about the tragedy coming from all directions, children and teenagers likely have their own good questions to ask and feelings to talk about.

Star Tribune staffer Jeremy Olson recently compiled a number of information sources for parents to consult in the case of a disaster, including a tip sheet from the National Center for Child Traumatic Stress (attached to this article).

What are some effective ways you’ve talked about natural disasters with your children? How do you make kids feel secure while still giving them honest information? How does the conversation differ between younger children and older children?

That's the topic our six-member Moms Council—including, , , and —chose to tackle in Patch's weekly Moms Talk discussion.

Post your thoughts, advice or questions about how parents should address the tragedy in Japan in the comments section below. On a sidenote, if you're interested in joining our Moms Council, e-mail Editor David Henke at david.henke@patch.com.