By Catherine Pearson, Photo: Getty Images, The New York Times, May 25, 2022
A devastating reality of raising children in America today is that parents must be prepared to talk to their kids about mass shootings.
It’s a wrenching task, and experts say there are some universal best practices — like avoiding graphic details. Or doing your best to actively listen, rather than trying to take away children’s pain.
But the particulars of what families discuss — and how parents respond to questions and concerns — depend a lot on children’s age and development. A 5-year-old will have a very different understanding of an act of mass violence than a 15-year-old will.
Comments (0)