Children Cope with Trauma After School Shootings

Children Cope with Trauma After School Shootings \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Evening Edition \ Mary Sidiqi \ Mass shootings, especially school shootings, can have lasting emotional, physical, and behavioral effects on children, even if they occur far away. Experts recommend open communication, age-appropriate conversations, and validating children’s feelings to help them cope. Trusted adults can play a crucial role in offering support, and additional resources like the National Disaster Distress Helpline are available for those in need.

Quick Read

• Long-lasting impact: Mass shootings can affect children’s emotional, physical, and behavioral well-being, even from afar.
• Importance of communication: Parents and caregivers should openly discuss these events if children are ready to talk.
• Role of trusted adults: Teachers, after-school staff, and other adults should create safe spaces for children to express their feelings.
• Age-appropriate conversations: Tailor discussions based on the child’s age, offering simple reassurances for younger kids and more complex insights for older ones.
• Validate emotions: Acknowledge and validate children’s feelings, allowing them to express grief and confusion.
• Non-linear grief: Understand that emotions may fluctuate and take time to process.
• Encourage resilience: Help children develop coping skills and reassure them that life will get better over time.
• Seek support: If needed, contact the National Disaster Distress Helpline for 24/7 emotional assistance.

Children Cope with Trauma, Full story

Mass shootings have long-lasting impacts on communities, particularly affecting children emotionally, physically, and behaviorally—even if the event occurred far away. School shootings, in particular, can disrupt kids’ sense of security, explains Sonali Rajan, a professor at Columbia University who studies the effects of gun violence on children.

Open communication is essential.

Parents and caregivers should not avoid discussing these events, especially if children are willing to talk. According to Emilie Ney from the National Association of School Psychologists, if children aren’t hearing about it from their parents, they may hear about it from peers. It’s okay for caregivers to admit they don’t have all the answers, as being available and patient is most important.

This responsibility extends beyond parents. All trusted adults in a child’s life, from teachers to after-school staff, should provide a safe space for children to express their thoughts and emotions. Crystal Garrant from Sandy Hook Promise emphasizes the importance of open-ended questions and community-building activities to encourage sharing.

Adapt the conversation based on age.

Younger children need simple explanations and reassurance about safety at home and school, while older children can understand more complex issues and benefit from discussions about how they can contribute to their own safety. The emotional and behavioral responses, such as anxiety or difficulty concentrating, may vary depending on the child’s developmental stage.

Acknowledge and validate feelings.

Beverly Warnock, of the National Organization of Parents of Murdered Children, stresses the importance of allowing children to express their emotions openly. Ignoring or suppressing feelings can hinder the healing process. Grief is not linear, and children (and adults) may experience fluctuating emotions over time. Normalizing these feelings can help them process the tragedy and move forward.

Ney encourages adults to reassure children that their feelings, even if they didn’t know the victims personally, are valid and show empathy toward others. Although healing may take time, children can eventually develop coping skills and find joy again.

Seek additional support if needed.

For those struggling with distress following a mass shooting, the 24/7 National Disaster Distress Helpline is available at 1-800-985-5990, offering support in both English and Spanish, as well as American Sign Language services.

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