Choosing Courage in a Climate of Fear

"In these times it can seem as though everything is a reminder that we live with a lot of unknowns. Often these unknowns are connected to a cause for concern and anxiety. Inundated by media reports chronicling dangers of every size and shape, it is hard not to feel overwhelmed. And yet this constant surveillance for threat, that children hear about in the news or from our own discussion and anxiety, has the potential to teach our children very important, unintended lessons about our world."

These words, written by Jeffrey Perkins in 2005 are as relevant today as they were thirteen years ago. And the advice Perkins offers, which forms the basis for the "Out of the Box" Training Kit, Choosing Courage in a Climate of Fear, is equally as helpful today:

"How can we respond to these threats from a place that acknowledges the reality of the world we live in without giving into fear’s desire to paralyze us?" Perkins asks. Here is one of his many answers: "Provide time for exploration. Acknowledge each child’s individual timetable for exploration. What one child may work though in a day, another child might need a month. By...giving each child the time he or she requires, you can help them feel safe to explore their feelings."

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