{"id":2171,"date":"2022-08-09T16:11:20","date_gmt":"2022-08-09T16:11:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lotuspsychgroup.com\/?p=2171"},"modified":"2022-08-09T16:11:20","modified_gmt":"2022-08-09T16:11:20","slug":"tips-for-talking-to-kids-about-violence-in-schools-communities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lotuspsychgroup.com\/stagingnew\/tips-for-talking-to-kids-about-violence-in-schools-communities\/","title":{"rendered":"Tips for Talking to Kids About Violence in Schools & Communities"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Being exposed to acts of violence is difficult and confronting for adults. Kids may have an even more difficult time understanding and processing the real-life violence they see on TV and on the internet. Learning about active shooters and having drills at schools can be very upsetting for young people. In this blog, we\u2019re going to talk through some tips for talking with children and teens about violence, how to process their feelings related to these events, and when it may be time to seek additional support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1 \u2013 Let Them Talk First<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Many parents are worried they\u2019ll say the wrong thing to their children, so they spend a lot of time preparing something to say. Then, they read off a prepared speech to their children. Instead of telling children what you think they want or need to hear, start by asking them what they know about school and community violence. Let them tell you what they\u2019ve seen, what they\u2019ve heard about, what teachers and others have told them, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2 \u2013 Let Them Ask Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Once they\u2019ve told you what they already know, let them ask any questions they have about what else they would like to know or things that are confusing them. This can be especially beneficial for younger children as you don\u2019t necessarily want to give them more detail than is necessary. Answer their questions honestly, but remember, you don\u2019t need to go into graphic detail to be honest. For very young children (elementary age), give concise, factual information without going into too many details. For older children (middle school age), you can use a bit more detail and maybe engage them in conversation about efforts to address these situations and how they can get involved. For older children and teenagers (high school age), give them some answers if they have questions, but you can actively engage them in the discussion of their opinions on the situation. Teens are often hungry to get involved in giving back or taking part in activism, so it\u2019s a good age to encourage this type of thinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3 \u2013 Validate Their Emotions & Reactions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Younger children will likely react more openly, showing fear or sadness. They may even cry. Reassure them that these responses are healthy and valid. Let them know that you\u2019re upset too. Older children and teens<\/a> may try to hide or suppress their feelings. They may describe metal detectors at their school and active shooter drills like they\u2019re no big deal. Just regular events. Encourage these children and tens to really think about and express how these safety measures and acts of violence they\u2019re aware of make them feel. Let them know that it\u2019s okay to be angry, scared, sad, or any other emotion they\u2019re feeling about the situation. After all, no child should have to deal with threats of violence when they leave home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4 \u2013 Recognize Signs of Concern<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When talking to your child about violence in schools and communities, be aware of signs that something is wrong. Consider your answers to the following questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n