By Adam Rohdie
Over the last week, shocking scenes of violence have once again entered our everyday lives. I have been processing many feelings these about these events and I know many students will be doing the same. These feelings have ranged from anger to hopelessness to insecurity. I know you join me in holding those impacted in your heart and in your thoughts.
Since media is everywhere and easily accessible, it is likely that our children are seeing and hearing this awful news. CNN has recently reported that Hamas may be releasing disturbing and horrific videos likely to be shared on Instagram, TikTok, and other social media outlets. The Israeli government is recommending that tweens and teens temporarily delete these apps from their phones. While we strongly concur with this advice, we do recognize that preferences on accessing media content is not a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach.
If shutting down these sites is not possible in your family, I would minimally recommend that you encourage your children to avoid searching, scrolling, and watching any videos about the war and make them aware of the possibility of seeing images they will not be able to unsee. I would further recommend that your family remain informed through reading trusted news sources. We urge families to read—not watch—the news as this will allow you to stay informed about current events while maintaining your ability to monitor and discuss with your family.
We thought it would be helpful to provide information for discussing with children news that can be distressing or even frightening and provide a few tips for having conversations with your child at home; a few highlights include:
Be mindful of having the news on with children nearby.
Be alert for signs of anxiety and check in.
Listen first, ask questions, don’t assume they have the same concerns or fears as you have.
Be aware of your feelings and reactions regarding the situation.
It’s ok to not have all of the answers, and if you do not, assure your child you will get them the answer.
Validate their concerns, even if you do not think they need to have them. (Avoid saying, “that’s so silly” or “don’t be scared.” Instead try saying, “It’s ok to be worried about this” and “I am always here to talk about it.”)
If younger children do not seem affected, then there is no need to bring it up.
For younger children, it is important to reassure them that where they live is safe and that many adults are working hard to resolve the situation
Additional Resources:
ChildMind Institute: Helping Children Cope with Frightening News: https://childmind.org/article/helping-children-cope-frightening-news/
Common Sense Media: Best News Sources for Children: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/best-news-sources-for-kids
