How to Talk to Your Kids About Tragedy
It's okay if you're not enough. For some children, especially those who may be exposed to tragedy repeatedly or to those who have experienced loss firsthand, parental support may not be enough to cope with the world's cruelties. Reaching out for professional support may be a good idea if your child is straying from his or her normal behavior over an extended period of time or in a way that is troubling.
Cirbus says parents should keep watch for certain signs: an increase in fearfulness, increase in emotional expression, not being able to fall asleep, not wanting to leave your side, or not following through with activities they normally find enjoyable. "An upset is understandable," she adds, "but if the child is not able to move on, or is having increased difficulty, reaching out to a professional to get extra support may be a good idea."
(Media Platforms Design Team)As parents, it can be tough to figure out how to help our kids, especially when such incidents make little or no sense to us, too.
