Talking to Kids about Tragic Events

Kids know more than we think

It is natural for parents to want to protect their children from the harsh realities of the world. However, children hear about things whether we want them to or not. Although you may think that your child is better off not knowing about incidents like 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, or the recent shootings in Virginia, it was likely discussed on the school bus, the playground, or in a variety of other places and chances are, the information your child heard is at least a little bit inaccurate or exaggerated. Children rely on their parents to be safe and reliable sources of information. Your child needs to know what you think, and the best way to reassure him is to talk about it.

Tips for talking about things in the news

Where to start. With children of any age, the first thing you want to do is to find out what they know. How much a child needs to know depends on her age – preschoolers don’t need very many details but teens often do. However, take your cues from your child in deciding how much to discuss with her.

• 5-8 year olds: It is entirely possible that your young child has not heard about an event, and there is no need to say too much if she hasn’t. Find out from her teacher if kids have been talking about the incident in school, and go from there. It is important to let children in this age group know that they are safe. Emphasize the distance between where you are and where the incident took place, and let them know that many adults are working to make sure it does not happen again anywhere.

• 8-12 year olds: Your school-age child has most likely heard about and possibly even discussed the event in question at school. Ask her what she knows and if she wants to talk about it. Even if it has not directly affected them, children at this age might feel angry or upset. Again, let them know that they are safe and that many people are concerned and are doing their best to prevent something like this from happening again.

• 12-18 year olds: Your tween or teen has definitely heard about a big event and has likely discussed it with peers and in school. Teenagers tend to be melodramatic and jump to assumptions, and it might be appropriate to have a broader, more general discussion. With something like a school shooting, you can talk about stereotypes, how to treat peers, or how to recognize and help troubled teens, and in the case of a natural disaster, you can talk about politics, organizations that help people, and different parts of the country or the world.

Look for signs of stress. Even if your child does not want to talk about it, he may be affected by a tragic, recent event that is being talked about. Common reactions to these kinds of events in young children may include clinginess, tearfulness, bed-wetting, nightmares or fear of the dark, indifference, thumb sucking or nail biting, or trouble in school. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, adolescents are generally more affected by tragic events, and may be more tired and irritable and possibly even try new and harmful things like alcohol or drugs. Talk to your child’s school and pediatrician if you see any of these things and are concerned.