Parents and teachers can get help from the National Association of School Psychologists.
In a shooting at Rob Elementary School in Uwald, Texas, at least 19 pupils and two adults were slain. Gov. Greg Abbott stated on Tuesday.
According to Abbott, the 18-year-old suspect, a Uwald High School student, perished as well.
Before accessing the school, the suspect allegedly shot his grandmother, according to the governor, who did not elaborate on her circumstances.
Many parents struggle to explain the horrible behavior of gun violence to their children and teens in the aftermath of a deadly mass shooting, an environment in which most children spend the majority of their day.
After 17 individuals, including students, were killed at Marjory Stoneman-Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, in 2018, Dr. Robin Gurwitch, a licensed clinical psychologist and Duke University Medical Center professor, told ABC News, “School is a secure and supportive setting for most kids.”
“So when a school shooting occurs, it shatters our perspective that I can be safe,” she continued.
Witness Isaias Melendez recalled a chaotic and emotional ascent outside Uvald Robe Elementary School in Texas, where 14 students and a teacher were slain in a school shooting.
Gurwitch, who is a member of the National Childhood Trauma Stress Network, describes how parents may talk to their children about the news and make them feel protected in the face of upsetting reports.
Parents and caregivers, especially those with high school children, should “be prepared to pose this question” in times like mass catastrophes, according to Gurwitch.
She said, “We really wanted to hug them and make them feel protected.” “However, part of being a parent is being willing to have unpleasant conversations.”
“To imagine that our children are unaware of these events is wishful thinking,” Gurwitch remarked. “We live at a time when real-time data about school leavers and responders is available online and updated every few minutes.”
When watching the news with your children, Gurwitch suggests turning it off and talking calmly about what they know, where they came from, and any misunderstandings they may have heard.
According to Texas Governor Greg Abbott, at least 14 elementary school pupils were killed when a gunman broke into the school.
Gurwitch also stressed the importance of assuring youngsters that their parents and teachers “will do everything we can to keep you safe.”
“Let them know that their school is committed to keeping them secure,” she advised.
Gurwitch emphasized that the news conversation should be tailored to the child’s age.
“I used the example of ‘this is the same debate about where babies come from,’ but it’s a very different subject when I’m talking to a preschooler or elementary student,” Gurwitch said.
She went on to say that parents should limit their children’s media exposure, especially those in preschool and younger grades.
“It’s possible that preschoolers don’t understand instant repetition,” she explained. “So the kids in this cycle are out of school, and because they don’t realize it’s a replay, they believe the school has hundreds of students.”
Gurwitch suggests confronting high school and high school students with the issue by saying you want to talk to them about the school shooting and asking them what they know about it.
“A very terrible incident happened at school today,” Gurwitch says opening the topic with younger children. I just want you to know that when you listen at school, someone was harmed and someone was killed. If you have any questions by the time the kids talk about it, you can come to me.”
