Taken from the Bethel Bible Village Blog:
July 16 was a surreal day on our campus. As military helicopters circled overhead and the SWAT team set up a command post down the road, our staff gathered to pray for those responding to the tragic attack on our military personnel.
It took only minutes to make sure that every child in our care was in a safe place. But it will take weeks, and even months, to answer the questions that come up as our children and teens try to process what happened as well as the things they hear about it.
Knowing that many parents in our community are facing those same questions, I gathered our team of experts† to come up with this list of helpful tips:
1. When your children ask you about a tragic event, always find out first what they already know. Otherwise, you may share more details than they need or are equipped to understand.
2. Next, find out what their concerns are. Are they worried about their safety? About relatives in the military? Or, in the case of a very young child, are they just wondering why everyone has red, white and blue balloons? Then, answer their concerns at their level, using words that are familiar to them.
3. Remind your children how much God loves them, and that He is always with them, no matter what happens. Praying with them can be comforting and help them remember to always bring their care before God.
4. For most children, the biggest question is often “Why did this happen?” It is okay to tell them that we don’t always understand the reason for bad things like this. In cases like this, explain that the people who did this do not know Jesus, and that means we need to keep praying and to remember to tell people how much Jesus loves them.
5. To keep your children from being overwhelmed by the tragedy, limit their exposure to media coverage in your home. Try to keep up with events privately, on your phone or computer, and allow your children to listen to or watch something soothing.
6. For young children, remember that they do not need to know all of the details of the tragic event. If they have heard things that upset them, you can lead them to a point of safety and hope by saying something simple like: “Somebody did something really bad to some people, but the police caught him and now we are all safe.”
7. With older children and teens, it is important to gently explore with them what they know and how they are feeling. Check in with them as the story develops, and make sure they do not have any new concerns, worries or fears.
Finally, be sure to address your own feelings surrounding the tragedy. If you are highly anxious, your children will feel this, and they will be anxious too. You want your children to feel they are secure in their home, and that they can rely on you and the Lord to keep them safe.
If you have specific questions or concerns, contact us at Bethel Bible Village, and we’ll be happy to help.
In-house Bethel Bible Village team who contributed information for this blog:
Robin Moss, LCSW (Director of Therapeutic Programs)
Shannon Hartin, MSW (Social worker)
Heidi Houghton, MSW (Social Worker)
Danielle Miller, BSW (Social Worker)