Death, terminal illness, war, terrorism, crime… none of us like to face these difficult features of the human experience.

As teachers, parents and carers we all have a responsibility to help kids prepare and cope with the aspects of life that bring feelings like fear, terror, pain and uncertainty.

A close family member died of cancer this week, and while I mourn her passing, I find that I have a wealth of coping mechanisms – developed from many life experiences, accumulated knowledge and, of course, an adult peer support group who can identify and sympathise.

All of which will help me to come to terms with what happened.

Children do not always have these consolations.

BrainPOP UK is committed to supporting children through these experiences with our movies on the very hardest topics in life.

Our PSHE and Citizenship section is there to help you find our thoughtful, informative and sensitive movies such as addiction, bullying, cancer, drug abuse and even death.

Whether you need these as movies to simply sit with a child, for an assembly, or for whole class speaking and listening, is up to you.

I guess one of the hardest movies we have ever made has a special relevance today.

Eight years ago, at 12.53pm GMT, a plane crashed into one of the Twin Towers in New York. Even typing this sends shivers up my spine, so imagine how hard it is for a child to manage their emotions about this event.

Help them understand the facts by watching our September 11th movie movie, which is free on our site for this week. You may also want to view this BBC News 9/11  timeline of the event.

Normally I’d ask you to see it and enjoy it.

But in this instance I simply ask you to see it.

That’s the most important bit.

Our September 11th movie (will open in BrainPOP UK)

Author: Eylan