The Newtown shooting: What do we tell our kids?

The Newtown shooting: What do we tell our kids?High profile acts of violence, particularly in schools, can confuse and frighten children who may feel in danger or worry that their friends or loved-ones are at risk. Parents and school personnel can help children feel safe by establishing a sense of normalcy and security and talking with them about their fears. The National Association of School Psychologists (www.nasponline.org), in “Talking to Children about Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers,” suggests the following:—Reassure children that they are safe. Emphasize that schools are very safe. Validate their feelings. Explain that all feelings are okay when a tragedy occurs. Let children talk about their feelings, help put them into perspective, and assist them in expressing these feelings appropriately. —Make time to talk. Let their questions be your guide as to how much information to provide. Be patient. Children and youth do not always talk about their feelings readily. Watch for clues that they may want to talk, such as hovering around while you do the dishes or yard work. Some children prefer writing, playing music, or doing an art project as an outlet. Young children may need concrete activities (such as drawing, looking at picture books, or imaginative play) to help them identify and express their feelings. —Keep your explanations developmentally appropriate. Early elementary school children need brief, simple information that should be balanced with reassurances that their school and homes are safe and that adults are there to protect them. Give simple examples of school safety like reminding children about exterior doors being locked, child monitoring efforts on the playground, and emergency drills practiced during the school day. Upper elementary and early middle school children will be more vocal in asking questions about whether they truly are safe and what is being done at their school. They may need assistance separating reality from fantasy. Discuss efforts of school and community leaders to provide safe schools. Upper middle school and high school students will have strong and varying opinions about the causes of violence in schools and society. They will share concrete suggestions about how to make school safer and how to prevent tragedies in society. Emphasize the role that students have in maintaining safe schools by following school safety guidelines (e.g. not providing building access to strangers, reporting strangers on campus, reporting threats to the school safety made by students or community members, etc.), communicating any personal safety concerns to school administrators, and accessing support for emotional needs. —Review safety procedures. This should include procedures and safeguards at school and at home. Help children identify at least one adult at school and in the community to whom they go if they feel threatened or at risk. —Observe children’s emotional state. Some children may not express their concerns verbally. Changes in behavior, appetite, and sleep patterns can indicate a child’s level of anxiety or discomfort. In most children, these symptoms will ease with reassurance and time. However, some children may be at risk for more intense reactions. Children who have had a past traumatic experience or personal loss, suffer from depression or other mental illness, or with special needs may be at greater risk for severe reactions than others. Seek the help of mental health professional if you are at all concerned. —Limit television viewing of these events. Limit television viewing and be aware if the television is on in common areas. Developmentally inappropriate information can cause anxiety or confusion, particularly in young children. Adults also need to be mindful of the content of conversations that they have with each other in front of children, even teenagers, and limit their exposure to vengeful, hateful, and angry comments that might be misunderstood. —Maintain a normal routine. Keeping to a regular schedule can be reassuring and promote physical health. Ensure that children get plenty of sleep, regular meals, and exercise. Encourage them to keep up with their schoolwork and extracurricular activities but don’t push them if they seem overwhelmed. Additionally, the USCCB Secretariat for Catholic Education cited the need for and importance of prayer. “Our schools afford us the perfect opportunity to speak about redemption, grace and heaven to children and parents seeking to understand and make sense of this very difficult event,” says Dominican Sister John Mary Fleming, executive director. “The question being asked is how God can allow this to happen? The response, as you all know, involves the fundamental teaching that God does not intend this evil but that we are always free to make choices for good and for evil. Our choices have consequences that can affect others positively and negatively. “Learning to support each other to make good choices is a way to talk about how we can support each other in dealing with the tragedy of Newton. The heroic acts of the principal, teachers and individual students shone light on the importance of good habits, friendship, and love as redeeming elements in the middle of very difficult and ugly events. These lessons can be applied in each and every day of our lives as children and adults.”{gallery width=100 height=100}gallery/2012/1221/kids/{/gallery}