Addressing School Violence: Navigating Difficult Conversations and Finding Resources

For our September blog this year, we decided to focus on a topic that has unfortunately been on many of our minds recently: school violence. While this is certainly not a new issue, it is one that continues to be very present in our society. It is an unsettling time. We have been hearing from families about their concerns and parents desire to have helpful conversations with their children. There are a number of factors to consider and that is why we wanted to take the time to share resources that we believe can help you navigate these difficult yet crucial conversations to address school violence.

While not an exhaustive list, we hope that this can serve as a good starting point:

Articles/Websites:

Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Families and Educators: The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) has a number of mental health resources available, including school safety and crisis resources. This article outlines strategies for caregivers and school personnel to use when having discussions with children. Recommendations are included to help adults keep the explanations developmentally appropriate.

Helping your children manage distress in the aftermath of a shooting: The American Psychological Association (APA) focuses on promoting the science of psychology and sharing information about a variety of psychology topics. This article includes tips for helping children to manage their distress after a shooting has occurred.

Parent Guidelines for Helping Youth After The Recent Shooting: The National Child Traumatic Stress Network’s stated mission is to raise the standard of care and improve access to services for traumatized children, their families, and communities throughout the United States. This fact sheet includes common reactions children may have after a recent shooting, how parents can support children, and self-care tips for adults. 

Helping Children Cope After a Traumatic Event: This guide created by the Child Mind Institute shares tips for helping children after a traumatic event and assisting them with recovering in a healthy way. Recommendations are provided and are tailored to children’s specific age groups. Signs of trauma in children and adolescents are also included. 

Talking to Children About Terrorist Attacks and School and Community Shootings in the News: The National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement (NCSCB) at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles works to assist schools with supporting their students through crisis and loss. This article also serves as a guide for adults to help them navigate these conversations with children.

Books:

Once I Was Very Scared by Chandra Ghosh Ippen (preschool/early elementary age) 

The Ant Hill Disaster by Julia Cook (ages 5-12)

This Good Morning America article features other book recommendations for elementary-age students.

An EducationWeek article discusses how teenagers are reading young adult fiction titles to help them understand and process their feelings about school violence.

For additional information, including support for survivors of gun violence, you may wish to check out the following:

Sandy Hook Promise

Everytown Survivor Network

If you would like further guidance with having these conversations, talk with your child’s therapist. If you are interested in seeking therapy services for your child, please reach out to us at info@thinkhappylivehealthy.com or call us at 703-942-9745.