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7. Many young children, when asking this question are really asking if they will be safe and we should supply the clear assurance that they will be safe.
2. For an older child the goals are to let the child know that they can always ask mom or dad any question and to assure them that we are all doing our best to keep them safe.
3. Many parents’ gut reaction is to share many details with the child; I do not feel that this is the best course for the child.
4. If a child asks this happened, A good response is, “I do not know why bad things like this happen but many people work hard to keep you safe.”
For older children: As a music therapist, there is one primary thing that I would be sure to do while exploring this topic musically:
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If I, as an adult, have such difficulty processing the emotions that I feel about the Sandy Hook shooting then what could possibly be going through the minds of children who are aware of the incident?
Rabbi Meir, who runs the Columbia Jewish Day School, gave this advice for speaking to children about the shooting:
For Younger Children: 1. I would not bring this up with children under second grade. 2. If the child asks about the event begin by asking what they already know. 3. Once the child tells you what they know ask one more time, “Did you hear anything else?” 4. The above provides an understanding of what information or misinformation the child already possess. 5. Next, I would assure the child that while a bad man did a bad thing (using the correct details the child provided) this happened for away and the bad man is no longer alive.