What should I tell my school-aged child about a school shooting?

To properly view this site, javascript must be enabled and Flash version 9 or higher must be installed.
Get the latest Flash player
Hayley Sherwood
Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Reston Psychological Center, P.C.
www.restonpsych.com  
(703) 437-3236

Dr. Sherwood is a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice at Reston Psychological Center, P.C., in Reston, Virginia.  She specializes in parenting, family, and women's issues.  She has extensive experience with clients with a variety of emotional and behavioral difficulties in clinical, community, and school settings.  Dr. Sherwood received her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from Temple University in 2000.  She is a member of the American Psychological Association, the Virginia Psychological Association, the Northern Virginia Society of Clinical Psychologists, and the National Register for Health Service Providers in Psychology.

What should I tell my school-aged child about a school shooting?

 

This series: 26,617 views

Print

Transcripts

Host: What should I tell my school-age child about a school shooting?

Dr. Hayley Sherwood: With a school age child after a school shooting, it is important to be honest, but be sure to keep information age-appropriate. Acknowledge that a very scary thing has happened. Let your child know the event was not their fault and that whatever he or she is feeling is okay. Whether it is fear, grief or not much at all.

Offer your child opportunities to talk about the incident, perhaps by asking what do you think about the shooting? What are the kids in school saying about it? Or what did the teacher say? Reassure your child that something like that will probably never happen to him or her and that you will be here to keep him or her as safe as you can.

1

Other Videos