What should I say to my kids? Here are some tips on how parents can talk to their children after a tragedy
If you were at the Super Bowl rally at Kansas City’s Union Station, or watching the news coverage of the shooting on television, your reaction might have been one of anger, while the person next to you might have felt overwhelming sadness. UH Behavioral Health expert, Sarah Kaiser, LCSW said there is no right or wrong way to react. “This was a horrific event that happened,” said Kaiser. “It’s important that you don’t minimize your feelings.”
It’s also important to process those feelings. For some of us, that means extra time working out. For others, it might mean journaling or talking to a friend.
Kaiser said when talking to children, you’re already an expert. “You know your children best and know if it’s typical for them to feel sadness, anger or irritability when something tragic happens,” Kaiser advised. She recommends keeping it simple for younger children and not burdening them with details. For older children, her advice is: be honest, limit their exposure to watching the event repeatedly, and remind them of all the steps you and other adults take to keep them safe.