The horror in Las Vegas is beyond belief. It defies logic and so trying to make sense of it is pointless. We can only feel it. I don’t see a lot of use in entering any comment on gun laws or mental health policy. It has all been said. Often. It all feels like white noise.

And so to the awful practicalities of the aftermath. How do we talk to our kids about what they are seeing on television and on the internet? You have to talk about it. You are the people your kids rely on for truth. They look to you for how to react. It is important not to retreat into fear and overly protective behaviours. We don’t want children to live in a state of fear.

So how do we talk to our kids about this event in a way that is supportive but not alarming? How do we acknowledge its enormity without catastrophising? The following is advice I got from a class of Year 9 girls at Santa Maria College after yet another horrific act of violence. They gave some very clear and insightful guidelines. Interestingly, our College psychologists agreed with them wholeheartedly. The girls said:

  1. Don’t hammer us with questions. We feel under attack and stressed when you fire question after question at us. Raise the topic and give us space to talk about it if we want to. Don’t keep bringing it up.
  2. When you ask us how we feel, we sometimes don’t know. Give us time. Don’t tell us how you think we feel or how we should feel.
  3. Stop and talk if you want us to take you seriously. Sit down with us. When you keep on making dinner or doing whatever it is you are working on, we just don’t feel like you are listening.
  4. Try not to turn it into a teaching moment or give advice. Just listen and acknowledge what we say. Listen to understand how we feel. You can’t fix it, so don’t even try.
  5. Under no circumstances tell other people what we’ve said to you. It’s private, and we hate it when you then talk about it with your friends or our family.
  6. Don’t go into political rants. Your politics doesn’t help what is happening on our insides.
  7. Maybe don’t talk at all. Sometimes it’s better just to listen and give us a hug.

In addition to the very useful tips from the kids, here’s what we also suggest.

  • Answer questions honestly but without being dramatic. You need to always be the person they trust to tell them the truth. They can access information anyway, better it comes from you than Facebook.
  • Let your child know that how they feel is normal and valid. There is an enormous array of ways kids may react, including not reacting at all. That’s fine.
  • Limit their exposure to traumatic coverage of the tragedy, whether on the news, social media or YouTube. We learnt after 9/11 that some children watched dozens of hours of coverage of the disaster. Don’t hide it from them, but letting them watch it repeatedly will keep them in a state of anxiety.
  • Distract kids with the normal routines and rituals of your family life.

Be aware that if your child is already coping with a loss, anxiety or is feeling down, this event may compound those problems. Be sure your child can name at least three people that they can talk to if they need help. Don’t be offended if it’s not you.

Some very good resources for parents that may interest you.

https://www.adaa.org/living-with-anxiety/children-and-teens/tips-parents-and-caregivers/help-your-child-manage-traumatic-

https://www.ocde.us/HealthyMinds/Documents/Resource%20Page/Helping%20Your%20Teenager%20Cope%20After%20A%20Traumatic%20Event.pdf

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