How to go about explaining tragic events to children

After recent mass tragedies, parents may be facing dilemmas on how to explain the violence and brutality happening all over the world, including our own country. Experts are saying that the most important thing to keep in mind when wanting to explain these calamities is the child’s age. It’s imperative that all information be kept at an age appropriate level and limiting their exposure to the media is also key. For example, children 5 years of age or younger do have to know nor be told about any violent tragedy or crisis happening around the world, nor should they be exposed to any media.

Experts then say that children between the ages of 6 to 11 should only be minimally exposed to media coverage, and should only be told basic facts. Children who are overly exposed to violent media images eventually are more anxious than children who have not been. It has been proven that violence can have lasting effects on children, and they will easily remember how something made them feel, especially a negative situation. It’s best to lay out facts of what happen, limit the brutality of it, and most importantly, reassure their safety.

Children will question if they are safe, so it’s important to communicate that you are doing everything you can to keep them safe, says Dr. Glenn Saxe, a chairman of the department of child adolescent psychiatry at NYU’s Langone Medical Center. He also states that parents should be wary of any changes in their child’s behavior after hearing of a tragedy and should address them immediately in regards to it.

Because teenagers have easier access to social media, it’s best to ask what they’ve heard or what they know, and to always be willing to hear and discuss their feelings.

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