07/16/2024
Shared some tips with the New York Post about ways to talk to kids about scary events… in this case talking about the assassination attempt, but the advice is good for any scary or traumatic events.
I noticed in some of the story comments that people argue we should just let them deal with it, tell them the complete truth, and stop “babying” kids by validating/reassuring them, but I assure you this is *not* the way to handle it if the goal is to help them process, understand, and deal with the emotional impact of these types of events. Leaving kids to fend for themselves emotionally is a significant risk factor for more signifiant mental health concerns to develop. So please do check in with kids and talk them through difficult experiences.
In the past two days, many little ones have likely asked their parents an incredibly challenging one-word question: “Why?”
