Talking with Children about Tragedy

Our hearts break for the victims of tragedies. As parents, we’d like to protect our children from tragedy, but it isn’t always possible. Even children not directly affected often hear about or are exposed to tragic events in some way.

If you’re wondering how to help your children understand and cope with national tragedies and tragic events in the media, I’m sharing some posts today that give helpful ideas for talking with children about tragedy.

Sandy Hook School Shooting: How to Talk to Kids about Tragedies from Chicago Now Tween Us.

Talking to Kids about Tragedy, Eduators’ Guidelines from WTOP.

{How to talk to your child about today’s shooting} Look to Mr. Rogers … by Zina Harrington at Sulia

How to Talk to Kids about Tragedies in the Media from Child Development Institute

5 Tips on Talking to Kids about Scary News from Parenting

Helping Children Cope with Tragedy Related Anxiety from Mental Health America

Talking with Children about Tragedies from About.com: Fatherhood

Talking with Children about Tragedy from The New York Times

A National Tragedy: Helping Children Cope from NASP Resources

10 Ways to Talk to Kids about World Events in the News from Education.com

Activities focusing on helpers and heroes: 9/11 Activities for Children (Most of the activities work for any tragedy involving community helpers and heroes.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families. If the unthinkable happens and your family is ever directly affected by a tragedy, please consider creating an “I Remember” book to help your children cope: Talking with Children about Death: Creating an “I Remember Book.”

UPDATES – Please check out the helpful resources at the collaborative PreK + K Sharing: Silence + Resources in Tragedy.

Teach Preschool has a helpful post for families and teachers wondering how to help young children: Discussion on back to preschool concerns after the tragedy at Sandy Hook School.

Michelle Obama wrote an open letter with advice on what parents can say to their children: Michelle Obama’s advice on talking to young people about Newtown.

Here are two helpful posts on what parents are (and aren’t) telling their children: Strategies for handling sad, tragic news – as a family from Teach Mama and Explaining the Inexplicable to Children from Naturally Educational.

Ways to Make a Difference and Show You Care about the Victims and Families of Sandy Hook

CNN has a list of ways to donate in the victims’ names and ways to send the victims’ families messages of condolence: Ways to Donate in Memory of the Victims.

RainbowsWithinReach has positive ideas of ways to respond to the tragedy and what NOT to say to a grieving family: Tragedy, Faith, Teachers, Hugs + HOPE.

Ann Curry at NBC News started a new movement with Inspired to act: #26Acts of kindness to honor those lost in Newtown, Conn. I’m participating.

Mama Smiles has a lovely post with a resource on ways you can help via the Connecticut PTA: #26actsofkindness.

Yesterday, 12/18, I participated in the Blogger Day of Silence for Sandy Hook. You’ll find a link there of where you can make donations.

The Good Long Road has a beautiful post with more resources on ways to make a difference: {Perspective} When Things Fall Apart.

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