Fort Worth, Texas,
15
February
2018
|
15:02 PM
America/Chicago

Talking to Your Children about Florida School Shooting

Child psychologist says let age, maturity level guide your conversation

No matter how hard you try, the shooting at a Florida High School may be difficult to keep away from your kids.

It was the nation's deadliest school shooting since a gunman attacked an elementary school in Newtown, Conn., more than five years ago.

What makes the news more tragic is that these were students, and children, who were killed by a fellow student. By the time your child returns home from school today, he or she may have questions about this tragic event.

So how do you talk to your child about the shooting?

Joy Crabtree, Psy.D, a licensed psychologist for Cook Children’s Behavioral Health in Southlake, said parents must set the example for their children to follow. Crabtree encourages a discussion of the events, but only if your youngest children have learned about the incident elsewhere. If they haven’t heard about it, don’t share information with them. If they already know about it, answer their questions and most importantly, reassure them.

Crabtree said that in the cases such as what’s currently in the news, parents need to think through whether their child can handle any news about it at all. Depending on their age and maturity level, it might be best to shield children from the news entirely.

“Parents have to stay calm and cannot be glued to the TV,” Crabtree said. “If you have an elementary-aged child, and they haven’t learned the news, there’s certainly no reason to sit down with them and show them the story. There’s no need to cause fear in your children. By the time children are 7 or 8 years old, they can distinguish fact from fiction and will understand the consequences of what they are watching. If they have heard about it, take as much time as needed to sit down with them and have a discussion/answer session, providing reassurance and support. Answer their questions, but only their questions. There’s no need to add more information that may scare them even more.”

For older children, such as middle school and high school, Crabtree encourages parents to again determine if their child is mature enough to handle the information. If parents feel they can handle it, use the DVR as your friend during the news. Watch it with your child and pause the TV to answer questions. Gauge your child’s emotions and turn the TV off if your child becomes too emotional or the news is too intense.

Children may not understand the distance of the events on TV, make sure to calm their fears and let them know they are safe. If they continue to be fearful of their own safety, it may be helpful to get out a map and show them how far away they are from the incident that happened today. You can reassure them that the police have the situation under control.

“This news can be very scary to many children,” said Crabtree. “Parents need to realize this can really raise anxiety levels. They may feel that if it can happen there, it can happen anywhere. I can’t stress enough the importance of just being there for your child right now to support them, listen to them, and reassure them. Again, for younger children, only discuss it if they are already aware of the situation.”

Teens may have more questions and concerns because they can find information on the Web and discuss it with their friends at school. The event may hit even closer to home because they may be fans of the artists who were performing at the festival. They may have been to some of their concerts themselves and think, “that could have been me.” They may wonder why something like this happens. Share with your child your own fears and anxieties about the events. Let them know it’s Ok to feel scared or frustrated, but it cannot overtake them. Also, share with them ways that they may help by donating monetarily or giving blood in some instances. Sometimes when tragedy happens it helps them to work through their anxiety by becoming active and helping others.

Listen to your teen, or older child, regarding their fears and concerns. How an adult manages their own feelings can also provide a positive example for them.

Crabtree advises parents to watch to see if their children restrict activity, for instance if they don’t want to go to school or to the playground because it is too far away from home, or simply because they are afraid. Also notice if your child becomes withdrawn or more clingy than usual, and constantly wants to sleep in your bed. For older kids, if you see them avoiding social events, or larger gatherings, that might be something to discuss.

“It is common for children to have a mild fear, but if you see an overwhelming fear, it’s important to start by talking to their pediatrician,” Crabtree said. “If it continues to be a concern, then it may be time to get professional help.”

Comments (0)
Thank you for your message. It will be posted after approval.