In the face of another school tragedy, what should Parents talk about with their children?

Comforting your children during school tragedies is of the utmost importance.

As a nation we have found ourselves in this place too many times.

Here we find ourselves in the midst of another school tragedy. As a nation we have found ourselves in this place too many times before. Though we know that there are faults in our society that lead to these tragedies, the point of this article is not to discuss those faults. What we want to focus on is what we should be talking to our children about when these kinds of things happen.

School Safety Plan

One of the first things that you should talk to your children about is the school safety plan that has been established at your child’s school. Ask them what they have been taught to do in school in the case of emergencies. Let them explain them all, fire drills, lockdown drills, active shooter, etc. This way you can ensure that they are clear on the plans that are in place. You can also ease any concerns that they may have about their safety; you can let them know that the staff has been trained and the most important thing that they can do is to follow the directions of the staff and to be quiet so that they can hear any directions that may be given.

Communicate Concerns

Another very important topic to discuss is to ensure that your child feels comfortable communicating any concerns that they may have at school. If they overhear someone talking about a weapon or harming another student they have to speak up. The school relies on students communicating in order to help keep students safe. Students often hear about these kinds of things first so they are a very important part of the communication pipeline in a school. If they don’t feel comfortable speaking to anyone in school, they must feel comfortable speaking to you and then it is vitally important that you alert the school of these concerns.

A Productive Break

Another task that I believe is worthwhile is giving your child a productive break from school when these kinds of events occur in our nation. What do I mean by a productive break? I mean that it should be a day that they get to take off from school but they get to spend time with you, their Parent, and learn something new. An example of a productive break could be taking them to a museum and then out to lunch. This is not only a time to learn but it is also time away for you both and you can just talk about whatever is on their mind. Another example may be going to do a physical activity together like playing basketball or tennis together, just some quality time with their Parent.

The important thing to remember is that we have to prioritize our children’s sense of safety after these events take place. If you are unsure about the school’s safety plan, take a minute to reach out to your school’s administration and see what the plan is before you have the conversation with your child. Just remember that communication is key and if everyone is on the same page it is alot easier to have a safe and supportive school environment.