How to Talk to Your Kids About School Shootings (Page 3)

School shootings are as traumatizing to parents as they are to children. What should parents do if they don’t feel it is safe to send their child to school?

Parents need to be reassured. In many ways, this is more difficult for parents than for children.

Your best bet is to stay in contact with and be in close communication with the school. Find out what measures they have in place. Ask if they have scheduled any meetings with parents or have a way for parents to connect and support each other.

There is a danger in overprotecting our children. It is important to remember that this is an extremely rare event. People have a tendency to overestimate the risk of rare events while underestimating those that happen every day. It’s part of human nature, but if you notice yourself doing this, it may be time to pull back a little so your child can move forward in the midst of tragedy.

When it comes to parents and children, anxiety happens by osmosis. Anxious parents often have children who are afraid. Just as you would ask of your child, ask yourself, “What am I afraid of?” If you cannot effectively deal with the answers on your own, seek professional counseling for your anxiety. It often takes only one or two sessions with a good therapist to begin healing.

Any suggestions on what NOT to do moving forward?

Don’t freak out in front of the children. The less they see of your own anxiety, the better.

When a tragic news story breaks, do not leave the TV on all day, and don’t leave your children alone in front of the TV. When you do have the TV on, watch with them so you can observe their reactions help them to understand. Very young children don’t have enough knowledge of geography to understand how close something is. They may worry unnecessarily that the violence is taking place in their own neighborhood.

Do give your children healthy messages, says Dr. Bloch. “Show them that you are able to go on with life and the things you need to do without this becoming the centerpiece of the family’s concern. Parents must keep themselves together for the sake of the children — even if they’re afraid and worried.”

Our heartfelt sympathies go out to the families of the victims, as well as to those who survive.

Photo copyright: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

3 of 3
back to page 1

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Hayley C.

9:10AM PST on Dec 25, 2012

Great, thanks!

December 25
send a green star

Marisa R.

3:59AM PST on Dec 20, 2012

Muita tristeza pelo ocorrido contra as crianças e adultos vitimas do atentado na escola.Espero que desarmem o mundo todo.E investiguem o que de fato aconteçeu para um rapaz de 20 anos cometer um ato insano como o ocorrido.

December 20
send a green star

Ajla C.

3:17AM PST on Dec 20, 2012

Thanks

Susan A.

12:46AM PST on Dec 20, 2012

Very good article, thanks!

C. W.

11:22PM PST on Dec 19, 2012

Also talk to your children about how the school system is grooming them to be debt-ridden, sheep, who don't ever really question the M.O. of the system-at-large NOR ask the questions that can truly get to the heart of the matter of violence/disrespect for life at the root/foundation of the system.

December 19
send a green star

A N M.

5:45PM PST on Dec 19, 2012

What I'm wondering about is how people explain to their children the utterly shameless remarks the likes of Huckleberry-Mike et al. made after this massacre. In fact, I'm wondering how people who voted for that freak from Arkansas in the primaries explain to their children why they voted for that cold-blooded jerk.

Joy S.

4:29PM PST on Dec 19, 2012

So sad that we even have to have such talks with our children/grandchildren.

Naomi R.

3:58PM PST on Dec 19, 2012

wish we would never have to have these conversations with our children

Aaron B.

12:54PM PST on Dec 19, 2012

Nessie B.

12:38PM PST on Dec 19, 2012

Thank you ... very helpful.