CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Everyone woke up this morning to the terrible news of the shootings in Colorado at the midnight premiere of the latest Batman film – news such as this can be especially disturbing for children who may not fully understand what has happened. Parkridge Valley counselor Farlie Chastain, LCSW, offers tips on how to talk to your children about the Colorado shootings or other disturbing news.
“It can be extremely difficult to know how to talk to your children about unexpected traumatic events such as the shooting in Colorado,” notes Chastain. “The best thing to do for younger children is to shield them as much as possible from disturbing details of the event. If you have a child that expresses concern, it is important to find out what they know about the event. Ask your child questions and listen carefully to the answers you receive - take the time to correct any misinformation you discover and clear up any confusion he or she may have. Explain that while something bad has happened, you as the parent will do your best to keep them safe.”
Older children may process news differently and so require a different approach, according to Chastain. “It is not uncommon for school-age kids to hear news about a shooting and immediately worry if something is going to happen to them. Have an open conversation about the news and if your child asks you questions, make sure your response is honest without being overly detailed. Give your children concrete examples of how society is working to keep the public safe – for example, you can talk about police and firefighters and how they work to protect people.”
It’s normal for children to express anger at the violation of their feelings of safety and to experience anxiety for a short time in response to disturbing news, but if you notice that your child is having persistent issues, seek professional help.“If you notice that your child is having nightmares, exhibiting aggressive behavior, or developing unusual rituals or phobias, it’s a good idea to have him or her talk with a counselor,” recommends Chastain.
For more information, visit http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/talk/news.html or visit ParkridgeValley.com.