12/14/12 - Following news of a massive shooting at a Connecticut elementary school, local parents may be wondering how to best talk to their kids about the tragedy that claimed the lives of 20 children, six adults and the gunman. Psychologist Katherine Rosenblum works in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Michigan. She says when things such as this happen, itâs really scary for everyone but allowing kids to express their feelings and ask their questions is an important first step. Rosenblum advises asking children what they are thinking and feeling about what they might have seen or heard while taking note of their behaviors and responses. Rosenblum says parents need to be mindful of exposure and protect kids from disturbing and distressing images whether on television or in the car on the radio. She says it is okay for kids to know that parents have feelings too and things can be scary for them, but it is important for parents to try not to show intense emotions or very strong reactions. Rosenblum suggests that instead of starting off with a big, fully packaged explanation, parents should keep it simple and age appropriate with questions such as âsomething really scary happenedâ¦how are you feeling about that?" That way, she says parents can respond to their own childâs specific questions and feelings. The attack came less than two weeks before Christmas and appears to be the nation's second-deadliest school shooting, exceeded only by the Virginia Tech massacre in 2007. (JM)
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