Principals and counselors in the Lake Forest School District have a wealth of resources and advice for parents who ask how to talk to their children about the most recent tragedy in Newton, Connecticut.
What they would say if you asked is, "Talk with your child, not to your child." When you talk with your child you ask them questions. You can't know what to say until you know what they know, what they've heard, what they think of that and what questions they have. Listening to your child is included when talking with your child.
The story unfolded on Friday, so we don't know what parents may have decided to share through the weekend. We don't know if some children sat and watched TV news coverage. We don't know if some parents made it a point to not discuss it at all. We don't know, child by child, if they have been personally affected.
At the school level what we do offer is assurances that children are safe. We provide counselors and other caring adults for those who have questions or want to talk about what they've seen and heard. We tell them that we know that such incidences are extremely rare. We know that we have good, solid safety practices.
Such events as this compel each school to get out their safety plans, review with faculty and discuss what, if any, drills and practices need to be implemented. We were safe on Friday.
We will be safer tomorrow.
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