Parents might be wondering how or even if they should talk about the Orlando shooting with their children. It鈥檚 a conversation worth having, according to experts.
鈥淔irst and foremost, talk about it,鈥� said Dr. Tina Cheng in an article titled 鈥淎ddressing Children鈥檚 Emotional Needs in a Time of Crisis.鈥� Cheng is a professor of pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Md.
Parents, caregivers and pediatricians should check in with children in the aftermath of a stressful event, such as the Orlando massacre, and discuss it openly, she said.
Forty-nine people were killed and dozens more were injured in the Sunday attack at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando. It was the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.
Cheng said that an open and honest discussion could go a long way because a child鈥檚 fear is often magnified and worse than reality. But don鈥檛 push it if the child refuses to talk about it, she cautioned.
She offered other tips as well, such as monitoring media exposure, addressing the child鈥檚 safety and leading by example.
鈥淭ake care of yourself,鈥� she said. 鈥淐hildren learn by observation and imitation, so it is essential for parents and caregivers to exhibit the behaviors and attitudes they want their children to develop.鈥�
An increasing amount of research shows that if the effects of acute and chronic stress in childhood is left unaddressed, a range of health problems like depression, substance abuse and heart disease could develop at a young age and later in life.
Cheng said that the potential health risk is what makes paying attention to the emotional needs of children in times of crisis, and at all times, a priority.
