Many superintendents, principals, staff, teachers, and parents worry about tragedies in today’s world, especially with the latest events. They don’t just care about their children’s safety but also how they’ll react to media coverage of these events. What can we do or say to help kids feel safe?
Be a Role Model
It’s important for adults to not let children see their own anxieties. Keep your updates to them factual instead of emotional. If you are feeling a bit jittery or overwhelmed after a tragedy, imagine how your kids might feel. Children mirror adult’s behavior, so be careful what you say or do around them.
Reassure Them
Reassure children and let them know that even though scary events happen, they are going to be ok. Tell them they are safe; a very important key to helping them feel better.
Monitor Exposure
To help reduce your child’s nervousness and anxiety, limit exposure of graphic images on TV and social media. Inform them about what is going on and prevent them from seeing traumatic pictures. Younger children do not need to know every detail about what is going on around them. If they are too young to understand, they are too young to emotionally handle the information. You want your kids to be curious, and it’s important to be honest when they do ask questions, but make sure you monitor how and what you tell them. Always tailor the facts to your child’s level of understanding and give only those details that he or she really needs to know.
Emphasize the Positive
During traumatic events it’s important to reassure your children that many happy things are also taking place in the world. They need to know there is lots of good in the world. Point out the blessings, love, and positivity in their lives each day. You can also talk about heroes, the good guys, doctors, paramedics, firemen, etc.
Children are especially vulnerable to tragic events because they’ve not yet learned the skills to cope with fear and stress. They look to adults and parents for reassurance. It is a challenge to make children feel safe when we as adults are anxious about scary events. With a little self reflection and the tips above, you can handle these situations gracefully.
Please be sure to share these tips with your school colleagues, families, and friends to help them learn how to work with their children during challenging times.
