It’s been over 20 years since my child was a fourth grader, but when I hear the horrible news from Uvalde, I feel the need to hug her tight, tell her that she’s safe, that we’ll be OK, that I love her so much.
We need more advocacy for policies to protect children, and to provide support for young men at risk. But right now, many children and parents seeing this tragic news struggle with what to do with the feelings it creates. Our colleagues at Voices for Virginia’s Children point out that : “Children need help talking about these issues with their parents (resources for parents and caregivers) and to be clear that there are individuals speaking up to keep them safe.”
Here are some additional resources for dealing with difficult events from Dr. Jennine Moritz:
- Something Bad Happened: A Kid’s Guide to Coping With Events in the News
- What to Do When the News Scares You: A Kid’s Guide to Understanding Current Events (What-to-Do Guides for Kids)
- Sesame Street in Communities
And maybe add a reassuring hug.
