Supporting Your Child After A Tragedy

In light of today’s unthinkable tragedy in Newtown, CT, your family may be discussing these events over the weekend. The three websites below provide guidance and advice as to how to talk to children about tragedies involving other children, such as the victims in the Connecticut elementary school shooting.

The first link is to an article entitled, “Helping your children manage distress in the aftermath of a shooting” from the American Psychological Association website. The National Association of School Psychologists have a variety of resources available on line including the two below: a list of tips for parents and teachers in helping students cope with a national tragedy and suggestions for helping special needs students cope with such tragedies.

All of these articles suggest it is important to stay close to your children and limit their television viewing of the news covering these events.

http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/aftermath.aspx

http://www.nasponline.org/resources/crisis_safety/terror_general.aspx

http://www.nasponline.org/resources/crisis_safety/specpop_general.aspx

Please give your children a hug no matter how old they are…