In the wake of tragedy, how should we talk to our children?

In the wake of tragedy, how should we talk to our children?

From the shootings at Sandy Hook that happened late last year to the recent bombings at the Boston Marathon, we have seen a rash of violent acts dominating media headlines. And with our 24 hour news cycle and online sharing through social media, children may need additional support to help make sense of it all.

So how do we talk with our kids in the wake of tragedies like this? Mental health experts say it’s important to be honest, balanced and reassuring.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), offers a number of tips on the most effective ways to help kids cope:

Set the example. Children will quickly pick up on the emotional cues of the adults in their lives. Maintaining a calm attitude and avoiding appearing anxious or frightened will help them model the behavior.

Be honest. It’s not helpful to pretend the event didn’t happen or wasn’t serious. Children may respond by thinking you are too afraid to tell the truth.

Being upset is okay. It’s important to reassure children that being upset is to be expected. Feelings of anger are okay too but kids need help from parents to express those feelings in an appropriate way.

Be mindful of their age. The conversation must be age appropriate. The youngest kids need brief, simple information.  Older children may have very defined ideas about the causes and solutions to violent acts. It’s important that they feel heard and affirmed. Be a good listener.

Offer reassurance. If the event is not close to home and not an immediate threat, emphasize the fact they are in a safe place.

People are getting help. Explain that emergency workers and other officials are doing everything they can to help those who were affected.

Limit exposure. National news outlets provide repetitious reporting and often air graphic video coverage again and again. Minimizing the number of times children watch the news will help lower their anxiety levels.

Monitor your stress. Adults are not immune to many of the same feelings of worry, anger and frustration. Connect with friends, family, religious leaders or mental health experts who can help your process your thoughts.

What experts say matters most is that adults have an open dialogue with kids because it will certainly help them cope with tough matters long term.

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health enews Staff
health enews Staff

health enews staff is a group of experienced writers from our Advocate Health Care and Aurora Health Care sites, which also includes freelance or intern writers.