We are deeply saddened by the tragedy in Newtown, CT and our hearts go out to all those affected. While what happened in Connecticut can be a tough topic to discuss with children, some parents find it necessary in order to help their children process the information they may hear on television and from others. For some children, talking about their concerns and their feelings can help them begin to cope with such tragedies.
The most common recommendations to parents for communicating with children and coping with tragedy are: remain calm, be honest, limit and filter what children see and hear, maintain normal routine when possible, be reassuring, allow children to talk and express their feelings.
Here are some resources Roughing It has compiled for parents on how to discuss such a difficult topic with children:
from American Psychological Association
from MSNBC
