When a school shooting occurs, what do you tell your own children as you prepare to send them off to school the day after such a tragedy?
The shooting at Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida yesterday has shaken us to the core. There have been at least 17 instances of gun violence in U.S. schools 2018 ALONE!
Here are the facts:
"17 people were killed and another 14 were wounded.
Suspect identified as Nikolas Cruz, who has been charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder
Cruz, 19, was believed to have used an AR-15 style semiautomatic rifle.
A YouTube user named "Nikolas Cruz" reportedly posted "I'm going to be a professional school shooter" on the site.
President Donald Trump has tweeted that there were 'many signs the Florida shooter was mentally disturbed.'"
Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who have been affected.
So, what do you tell your children? How do you ease their anxieties of going to school? Well, according to health experts you as a parent need to have open conversations with your children. You as a parent also need to have your own support system that you can lean on. When you talk your child through tragedy's it's good for you to have already process it.
It is also recommended to let your child take the lead on difficult conversations such as school shootings. "As parents, we tend to either share too little and leave them wondering, or over-explain and freak them out."
PUT THE SCREENS DOWN! Take time daily or weekly to have talk about school with your kids. See what's on their mind and do a check-in at dinner. There may be something your kid needs to talk about!