TRI-CITIES, Wash.-Following recent mass shootings in Toppenish on October 19 and Lewiston, Maine on October 25 parents may be struggling to talk with their children about violence.
The way each family addresses violence or shootings is different and can vary depending on the child, however, the American Psychiatric Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics suggest parents should start tackling tough topics with children around age eight.
According to an NBC report on mass shootings by Meghan Holohan, published in 2015 and updated several times since, the parent-child response to gun violence varies depending on age.
“If it doesn’t directly affect your family, kids under 8 do not need to hear about this,” said Dr. Deborah Gilboa, a parenting expert in the NBC report.
When it comes to discussing mass shootings Gilboa recommends different approaches for different age levels.
Children under eight-years-old:
Parents should keep the story simple for their children, perhaps a one-sentence version of events.Stories should reinforce parents’ beliefs.
Elementary age children:
Parents should prevent kids from seeing the news or images of violent events.Balance out or even replace violent or negative images with positivity and stories of people who helped in a bad situation.
Tweens:
Ask your tweens if they have heard about the mass shooting or other situation.If they have heard the news take the time to listen to their thoughts and feelings about it, then have a conversation.
Teenagers:
Again ask if your children have heard the news.If they have talk about their feelings, but then help them find ways to take meaningful reaction in response to the situation if they wish to do so.
