Talking To Your Kids About Mass Shootings

This segment is from ABC’s Good Morning America (11/6/17), and it provides some advice on talking to your kids about mass shootings.

This is from the book Survive A Shooting: Strategies to Survive Active Shooters and Terrorist Attacks

It’s very important to discuss these things with your children at a level that is appropriate for their age and maturity. Kids understand more than we think they do at times, and even very young understand there are good guys and bad guys. It will be reassuring to them to know their parents have a plan to keep everyone safe in case of a bad guy.

As your children become older, you can explain more of your plan and include them. Obviously, your plan will change as your children grow. When I’m teaching classes to teachers, the elementary school teachers will have a different plan for the classroom than the high school teachers. A classroom full of senior football players presents a much different scenario than a classroom full of first graders.

The key is to explain to children at a level they can understand and accept without scaring them. The plan and communication are meant to help when practicing the plan, and for if an actual situation occurs. It shouldn’t be an exercise that frightens or creates fear and anxiety.

Thanks to ABC and GMA for information to help keep our kids safe.