We provide a safe place for recreational activities
for our youth daily. It was devastating to hear that there was a school shooting in Newtown, CT this week. We take pride in providing a safe environment for our youth. When parents leave their children in the care of a school or afterschool program they are trusting that they will be safe. However, there are some things that can't be predicted or prevented in the world we live in. We understand this may be a tough time for many parents so we would like to share some helpful information on how parents can make their children feel safe after this tragedy.
Some suggestions can guide you as you help your children process their fear.
- Don't let young children watch the news now. There is no good reason to expose them to this event. It would be better to leave them uninformed, if possible, and keep their sense of safety at school intact. (I suggest this rule: if your child still believes in Santa, he or she is too young to process this event.)
- If your child hears about the news (which he probably will), be there and take time to listen. Listen more than you talk and be ready to answer questions in an honest but simple manner. Empathetic listening is what your child needs most at this time.
- Never dismiss or ridicule their fears. If children are scared at night, scared to go to school, wet the bed or become afraid to go outside, don't make fun of their fears. Let them know that everyone experiences fear and it's perfectly normal. Take time to talk about how they feel. Validating their fears, instead of dismissing them, will foster self-esteem as they grow.
- Talk to children about how to respond in an emergency. It is smart to be prepared and practice what to do in earthquakes, fires and shootings. Having these discussions should make your child feel safer. They should give your child confidence and make him or her feel strong and smart. There are things he can do to protect himself.
- Talk about how rare these events actually are. Millions of children go to school every day (and have for centuries), and only a few have been hurt at school. The odds of your child being hurt there are extremely small. School is still a safe place for kids.
- It's OK to feel scared, but we can't let our fear stop us from living, or we let the bad guys win. If your child is scared to go to school Monday, this concept is one you might want to discuss. We cannot let bad people stop us from living our lives. You can empower children to fight back against senseless violence with bravery and kindness. We won't let one bad person ruin school for the rest of us.
- Talk to children about your personal spiritual beliefs. Often, trust in a higher power can bring comfort and a feeling of protection. Talk to your child about what it means to trust God and life. Teach children to understand the nature of life (according to your beliefs) and that life is a safe endeavor in spite of the difficulties. No matter what happens we are still OK.
- Hold them close and appreciate them more than you ever have.
Source: KLS.com
Do you have a question for Coach Kim, or maybe a topic you'd like her to address?
Email her at kim@lifeadviceradio.com.
