Ohio State nav bar

Skip to main content

The Ohio State University

  • Help
  • BuckeyeLink
  • Map
  • Find People
  • Webmail
  • Search Ohio State
  • Home
  • Food
  • Family and Relationships
  • Money
  • Mind and Body
  • Webinars
  • Authors

Family and Consumer Sciences

Live Smart Ohio

Ohio State University Extension

Topics:

The Ohio State University
You are here: Home / Family and Relationships / Talking To Children About Disasters

June 14, 2016

Talking To Children About Disasters

child-929935_1920As many know by now, Sunday marked a terrible day with the worst mass shooting in U.S. history. Times such as these are hard to comprehend, and they are particularly confusing and difficult for children. When disaster or tragedy occurs, it is important for parents to talk to their kids about what happened. This gives children the chance to express their feelings and their understanding of what happened. For many parents, this can be a difficult task. There are some guidelines parents should keep in mind when talking to their child about a tragedy:

Keep your child in mind. The most important thing to keep in mind when talking to your child about a tragedy is the age and development of your child. Only you really know their child and how they may react to situations. This might determine the explanation or the amount of detail you give.

Encourage expression of feelings. It is important that children are able to express their feelings and that it is alright to be upset, sad, mad, etc. It is important not to dismiss your child’s feelings, even if you think their feelings are unnecessary.

Remain calm. Generally children look to adults in times of tragedy or disaster and may mimic or pick up on the emotions of adults around. Your child will look to you about how to react about the situation. Take time to get control over your own emotions before you talk to your child.

Limit media exposure. While teenagers may want to watch coverage of the event, constant exposure should have limits. Cover of the event should exposure should be limited especially for young children.

You don’t need to give a reason. Many times youth may ask why an event happened, and adults may feel obligated to answer. Many times there is no reason. Be careful not to blame a cultural, racial, ethnic, religious or another group.

Overall it is important for parents to talk to their child when tragedy strikes, even if the task is difficult. It is important for your child to feel that they are supported and safe, especially in a difficult time.

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

Categories: Family and Relationships
Tags: communication, conversation, development, disasters, tragedy

Avatar for Katie Schlagheck
Avatar for Katie Schlagheck

About Katie Schlagheck

Katie Schlagheck, CFLE, is a Family and Consumer Science educator in both Ottawa and Sandusky counties. Being a Certified Family Life Educator her interests focus on the well-being of families and relationships through the range of FCS areas. She specifically is interested with risk and resilience of children and families, parenting, prevention science, and program evaluation. Born and raised in Washington State, she has been exploring all Ohio has to offer, as well as running 5K races in Northern Ohio.

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Recent Posts

Loving Kindness chart from self to world

Cultivating Loving-Kindness

Exploring the Heart of It All webinar series presented in Autumn 2024

pages of open book shaped into a heart

Making Every Day Sweet

I will serve 2024MLK

Unite, Serve, and Transform on MLK Day to Create the Beloved Community

Follow Us!

  • Facebook

Footer

Need Assistance?

If you are having issues logging into the site, need assistance with updates, or need to request an alternate format please send an email to the EHE Service Desk at servicedesk@ehe.osu.edu stating the nature of your issue and we will assist you. Thank you.
Are you a Live Smart Ohio Author? Log in here!

Categories

  • Food
  • Family and Relationships
  • Money
  • Mind and Body
  • Webinars

Follow us!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
The Ohio State University
FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN ECOLOGY
COLLEGE OF FOOD, AGRICULTURAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

© 2025 Live Smart Ohio - Family and Consumer Sciences | The Ohio State University - College of Education and Human Ecology | Accessibility | Privacy Policy

%d