Home Consumer How to Talk to Your Kids About the Attacks in Paris

How to Talk to Your Kids About the Attacks in Paris

Facebook

By Belinda Luscombe, TimeSouthFloridaReporter.com, Nov 15, 2015 – When terrible events happen, such as the attacks on Paris, parents’ immediate instinct is to shield their children from them. While this is perfectly natural, particularly as parents are probably having difficulty wrapping their heads around the events too, it may not always be the best approach, according to experts.

“Don’t delay telling your children,” says Harold Koplewicz, President of the Child Mind Institute. “It’s very likely that your child will hear about what happened, and it’s best that it comes from you so that you are able to answer any questions, convey the facts, and set the emotional tone.”

Figuring out what your child has learned and answering any questions they have in terms they can understand is usually the best approach.”By initiating this dialogue, and allowing and encouraging your children to express their feelings, you can help them build healthy coping skills that will serve them well in the future,” says Koplewicz.

It’s important to try and stay calm as you talk through the events. Children pick up their cues from their parents so if you act anxious they will be anxious.

Trust your instincts too. Kids vary in levels of anxiety, and vulnerability. You know your kid and what they can handle better than anyone.

Here’s an age by age guide to keeping the discussion developmentally appropriate.

[vc_btn title=”HOW TO TALK TO YOUR KIDS ABOUT THE PARIS ATTACKS” style=”outline” color=”primary” size=”lg” align=”center” css_animation=”appear” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Ftime.com%2F4112751%2Fhow-to-talk-to-your-kids-about-the-attacks-in-paris%2F|title:HOW%20TO%20TALK%20TO%20YOUR%20KIDS%20ABOUT%20THE%20PARIS%20ATTACKS|target:%20_blank”]
TIME is a global media brand built on 100 years of unparalleled trust and authority, with an audience of more than 100 million people worldwide across our platforms. Created in 1923, TIME began as the first weekly news magazine: a digest of world events, for busy people to read. Today, TIME includes a website; a magazine; a social media footprint of over 51 million; TIME Studios, an award-winning film and television division; live events; Red Border, an award-winning in-house branded content studio; TIME CO2, a climate action platform; TIME Stamped, a recommendations and e-commerce platform created in partnership with Taboola; and TIME Sites, a customer-experience platform.TIME is a global media brand built on 100 years of unparalleled trust and authority, with an audience of more than 100 million people worldwide across our platforms. Created in 1923, TIME began as the first weekly news magazine: a digest of world events, for busy people to read. Today, TIME includes a website; a magazine; a social media footprint of over 51 million; TIME Studios, an award-winning film and television division; live events; Red Border, an award-winning in-house branded content studio; TIME CO2, a climate action platform; TIME Stamped, a recommendations and e-commerce platform created in partnership with Taboola; and TIME Sites, a customer-experience platform.