How can I explain what happened in Orlando to my kids?

Boston University School of Education professors Melissa Holt and Jennifer Greif Green lend their childhood development expertise.

After a horrific event, such as the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings, the extreme violence at Sandy Hook, or this weekend’s mass shooting in Orlando, parents around the world are faced with a unique challenge: they must help their children cope with the news and help them comprehend what happened. Particularly when dealing with young children, this can be a tricky balancing act.

Boston University School of Education professors Melissa Holt and Jennifer Greif Green, both child counseling experts, have lent their expertise on this particular part of parenting to many. Today, they offer advice specific to the Pulse nightclub shootings:

“In the wake of the tragic Orlando shootings, we can expect that children might experience a range of responses (anger, grief, fear) — all are normal. Children with more exposure to the shootings (e.g., knowing someone at Pulse, having greater media exposure to events) are likely to have the strongest reactions. There are several ways that parents and teachers, who are in close contact with children, can provide support following terrorist attacks and hate crimes. One thing that adults can do is let children lead the conversation — ask them what they know, ask them what questions they have. In turn, adults can provide brief, clear, and honest answers. With older children, adults can join in grappling with important questions about hate crimes, gun control, and the intersection of racial/ethnic, religious, gender, and sexual identities. One of the most important roles that adults can play is keeping an eye out for children who might need additional support. In particular, adults should be watchful of children with intense responses (e.g., significant acting out or withdrawal), children whose reactions seem to persist, and children identifying with groups that were perhaps most vulnerable in the face of this attack because of their personal or familial identities.”

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