(From The Washington Post) In the wake of repeated school shootings — the latest being at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, California, in which polic said a 16-year-old boy fatally shot two students and wounded three others — what's the best way educators can talk to students when a tragedy occurs? Gayle Cicero, a clinical assistant professor at Loyola University in Maryland, gives advice on how to allow children to express their fears and ease their anxiety. Here are a few highlights:
- Start by asking what they heard and then take time to listen. This can open the door for children to ask questions or talk candidly about a traumatic event.
- Encourage healthy expression. Let the children's questions guide what you talk with them about, or encourage them to express themselves through an activity they enjoy such as music, basketball or drawing.
- Maintain consistent routines. Be aware of when a student may be breaking routine because of anxiety, such as skipping school for a stomachache, and reinforce spaces in the school that are safe.
- Allow space for authentic emotional experiences. Take steps to shield students when something is too much for them to handle, but remember that it can be healthy for them to see an honest response to what's happening in the world.
More at the Washington Post
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