Coping with School Violence

• Provide facts to your child in a developmentally appropriate way.  This will eliminate false information and rumors spread by their friends.
• Don't volunteer too much information. Rather, answer your child's questions and provide time and space for them to process your responses.
• One of the best things parents can do for worried kids is find out what they've heard, then correct any misinformation.
• Ask questions such as “What have you heard?” and/or “What do you have questions about?”
• Allow your child to talk about their feelings and thoughts.
• Offer a calm, non-judgemental, and validating demeanor.
• Reassure them of their safety by highlighting the precautions you are taking and the safety measures in place at school (i.e. Student Resource Officers, single point of entry to school, lock down drills, etc.)
• Steer them away from frightening fantasies and limit exposure to social media.
• Keep as normal a routine as possible.

Please contact any of our District student support professionals if you notice any of the following signs of trauma with your child (Child Mind Institute):

• Changes in eating or sleeping habits
• Increased difficulty being away from parents/guardians
• Newly developed school refusal/avoidance
• Newly developed obsession with news stories and/or violence