How to Talk to Kids About Mass Shootings

The director of Needham Youth & Family Services shares useful ways to engage youth in conversation about their thoughts and feelings regarding tragic events like a school shooting.,
It seems that children have to grow up faster these days. At one time it seemed the biggest discussion parents had to have with their kids concerned the birds and the bees. In recent years there are many more topics that have entered the realm of “difficult conversations”, from racism to violence, the pandemic and more. Although we are seeing these things more frequently, it doesn’t make talking about them any easier. We spoke with Sarah Shine, director of Needham Youth and Family Services, about how to address mass shootings with our children, and how to help them process and cope with what they may be hearing about the tragedy in Texas.

This story ran as part of the Needham Channel News, a weekly newscast airing on The Needham Channel every Thursday at 7:30pm. The Needham Channel News can be found on the Community Channel: Comcast 9, RCN/Astound 15 and Verizon 29. Most Thursdays it also can be viewed on our HD Channel on Verizon 2129 and streaming on this site.