Discussing Tragic Events with Children: A Guide to Navigating Difficult Conversations
In the wake of a tragic incident at North Forsyth High School, parents are being advised to address the event with their children in a supportive manner. Such occurrences can have far-reaching emotional impacts throughout the school community.
Nicole Moore-Geter, a licensed mental health counselor and the founder of Counseling with a Purpose, emphasizes the importance of discussing these events with children, focusing on the approach rather than the avoidance of the topic. “The conversations do really need to happen without creating more fear or minimizing some of the experiences or emotions that the children are already having,” she explains. “So even when adults try to protect them from the full story, their nervous system, typically, it’s going to already sense a disruption in safety. So silence definitely does not protect them, but attuned and developmentally-appropriate conversations do.”…