Talking to Children About School Shootings

Families left Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis after a tragic shooting on August 27. This event highlights a growing concern in the United States: the increase in school shootings.

Data from the American Academy of Pediatrics shows a rise in school shootings. According to CNN, there have been 44 shootings this year alone. Since the Columbine High School incident in 1999, The Washington Post tracked over 400 shootings.

Addressing Children’s Concerns

It is crucial for parents and teachers to address children’s anxieties after such events. David Schonfeld, a pediatrician at the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement, emphasizes understanding what children know and feel. He suggests starting conversations by asking children what they’ve heard or understood.

Children’s questions may be very different from adults’. It’s important to understand what their actual concerns are.

His organization provides guidelines for discussing tragedies with children. Kids often want to know who’s at fault, how the event could have been prevented, and if it could happen at their school. Giving truthful answers helps build trust.

Sharing Information and Emotional Reactions

The amount of information shared should be appropriate to a child’s age and emotional state. Children who have experienced related trauma or know the victims might have stronger reactions.

Melissa Brymer from the UCLA-Duke University National Center for Child Traumatic Stress advises patience. Conversations may need to happen repeatedly to help young children process events.

The American School Counselor Association suggests maintaining regular routines to provide security. Limiting media exposure is also recommended to avoid unnecessary anxiety from repeated coverage.

Coping Mechanisms

In the aftermath of a tragedy, it’s beneficial for children to learn coping strategies. Books like “Once I Was Very Very Scared” by Chandra Ghosh Ippen can help young children. These resources depict how different characters handle fear and stress.

For older children, channeling emotions like anger into action can be beneficial. Schonfeld suggests participating in initiatives aimed at reducing gun violence. Students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, for instance, advocated for gun control after their school’s shooting in 2018.

Conversations about these issues can prepare children to discuss other difficult topics in the future, making them more willing to seek guidance.

Ultimately, difficult conversations about such tragic events are a necessary part of life, as Schonfeld points out.