As the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks approaches, experts are offering guidance to parents on how to talk to their children about this significant and difficult event. Researchers from the University of Missouri's College of Arts and Science suggest that parents should start the conversation themselves rather than waiting for children to bring it up. This approach helps avoid the impression that the topic is too sensitive or taboo to discuss openly. Studies show that many discussions about 9/11 begin when parents answer questions or respond to media coverage, allowing them to gauge what their children are curious about and ensure they feel comfortable talking about challenging subjects. Experts emphasize that the way parents discuss 9/11 should be tailored to a child's age, maturity, emotional readiness, and level of interest. Many parents avoid showing graphic images or explaining complex details they believe their children aren't ready for. However, research suggests that parents don’t need to provide all the information at once. Instead, they can gradually adjust the depth of the conversation as children grow and become better able to understand the historical, emotional, and political aspects of the event. Finding the right balance between being open and protective is crucial. Young children may become overly focused on disturbing details, which can increase fear or sadness. On the other hand, completely avoiding the topic might leave children unprepared when they encounter it in school or the media. Parents can help their children understand what happened without exposing them to information they aren’t ready to process, providing a safe and age-appropriate context. For parents who lived through the 9/11 attacks, sharing personal stories can be a powerful way to help their children understand the event. The study focused on parents who experienced 9/11 firsthand and now have children who were born after the attacks. These parents often share their own memories and emotions, helping their children grasp what it was like to live through a historic event. Personal stories make the event more relatable and give children a connection to a moment in history that might otherwise feel distant or confusing. For parents from ethnic or religious minority backgrounds, these stories also offer a chance to share unique perspectives and lessons shaped by their families’ experiences after 9/11. Overall, research shows that younger generations often seek stories from their parents and grandparents to learn about their family history and understand how past events shaped the world they live in today.