Helping Kids After a Shooting

• Try and keep routines as normal as possible. Kids gain security from the predictability of routine, including attending school
• Limit exposure to television and the news
• Be honest with kids and share with them as much information as they are developmentally able to handle
• Listen to kids’ fears and concerns
• Reassure kids that the world is a good place to be, but that there are people who do bad things
• Parents and adults need to first deal with and assess their own responses to crisis and stress
• Rebuild and reaffirm attachments and relationships

From the American School Counselor Association - https://www.schoolcounselor.org/school-counselors/professional-development/learn-more/shooting-resources

Additional Resources

• Talking to Children About Violence: http://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources/school-safety-and-crisis/talking-to-children-about-violence-tips-for-parents-and-teachers
• Talking to Children about Terrorism and School Shootings in the News: https://www.schoolcrisiscenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/guidelines-talking-about-tragedies.pdf