Given the recent events in Buffalo, New York, and Ulvade, Texas, as well as in Alexandria City, ACPS wants to provide families with resources to support conversations and discussions with their children about these events. This information is also available on the ACPS website.
Overall, families should keep in mind the following:
- Limit how much news or other video media that children are viewing about these events.
- Maintain routines to the extent possible. This can help children feel more secure if they know what to generally expect throughout their day.
- Answer their questions in a developmentally appropriate way. Most of the time a child only needs a short answer to their specific question. “I don’t know” is always an appropriate answer.
- Kids of all ages process emotions through actions. They can draw pictures, create songs or poems, make cards or engage in physical activity as a way of expressing and handling their strong feelings.
- It is okay to allow kids to express their feelings and let them know that they are heard. You do not have to have the perfect response but just hearing them is often enough.
- Reach out to your child’s school counselor, school nurse, school psychologist or school social worker if you feel they need additional supports.
Families may also want to review the resources below for additional information on how to support their children during difficult times:
- Common Sense Media: How Do I Talk to My Kid About Violence in The News?
- PBS Kids: Helping Children with Tragic Events in the News
- American School Counselor Association: Helping Students After a School Shooting
- National Association of School Psychologists: Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers