by Oretha Winston, Lead Editor, Elev8 Once again, parents and
teachers are faced with the challenge of discussing a tragic
incident of community violence with children. On Friday we saw a
tragedy unfold in an elementary school in Newton, Conn. Here are
a few things to help you have this meaningful discussion. - Give
children honest answers and information. Children will usually
know, or eventually find out, if you’re “making things up.” It
may affect their ability to trust you or your reassurances in
the future. - Use words and concepts children can understand.
Gear your explanations to the child’s age, language, and
developmental level. - Be prepared to repeat information and
explanations several times. Some information may be hard for
them to accept or understand. Asking the same question over and
over may also be a way for a child to ask for reassurance. -
Acknowledge and validate the child’s thoughts, feelings, and
reactions. Let them know that you think their questions and
concerns are important and appr