What do we tell our children after the horrific school shooting in Newtown, Conn.?
The American Psychological Association offers excellent tips in its article, “Helping your children manage distress in the aftermath of a shooting.”
Resources are available, too, from the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, which includes “Tips for Talking to Children about the Connecticut Shooting,” by David Fassier, M.D.
The National PTA offers downloadable parent guides on “Helping Your Children Manage Distress in the Aftermath of a Shooting” and “Discussing Hate and Violence With Your Children.”
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network weighs in with advice for parents of children who are directly impacted by such an event in “Parenting for a Challenging World.”
While there’s more to be said in coming weeks about how children are reacting to this event, we believe these are good places for parents to find answers to at least some of the initial questions they may have about giving their children appropriate guidance and solace.