To help us all, especially children, to cope with last week’s horrific shooting, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network has developed several resources tailored to handling the aftermath of school crises and episodes of mass violence.
Talking to Children about the Shooting has helpful tips on communication with children about last week’s shooting, common reactions to disturbing news, and suggestions for how caregivers can serve as positive role models for children and help them develop coping skills:
Tips for Parents on Media Coverage has suggestions on how to address media coverage on disturbing events with children and encourage helpful and healthy communication in the aftermath of a crisis or disaster:
http://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/assets/pdfs/tips_for_parents_media_final.pdf
Trauma Types: Terrorism Resources includes several resources for parents to help children discuss and heal after incidences of mass violence. It includes tips for preschool and school-aged children as well as tips for youth talking to journalists about the shooting:
http://www.nctsn.org/trauma-types/terrorism
The National Institute of Mental Health also has a booklet on their website, Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Violence and Disasters: What Parents Can Do, that discusses ways to help children and adults handle violence and disasters and includes lists of common trauma symptoms for young children, school-aged children, and adolescents:
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/helping-children-and-adolescents-cope-with-violence-and-disasters-parents/more-about-trauma-and-stress.shtml
Links to all of these resources are also available on the Ambit Network website: ambitnetwork.org
