The Explorer

Below you will find some helpful resources for talking to your children and helping them cope with violence and tragic events. These resources were gathered by the Indianapolis Public Library.

This video contains advice from the makers of Sesame Street:

Professional Advice about Helping Children Cope with Violence and Tragic Events:

• The Fred Rogers Company: Fred Rogers Talks About Tragic Events in the News
• El Señor Rogers: Cómo ayudar a los niños con acontecimientos trágicos en las noticias
• National Association for the Education of Young Children: Coping With a School Shooting
• National Association of School Psychologists: Helping Children Cope
• American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: Talking to Children about Community Violence
• The New York Times: Tips for Talking to Children About the Shooting
• The New York Times Parenting Blog Motherlode: How Not to Talk With Children About the Sandy Hook Shooting
• LA Times: Helping Children Cope With Tragedy
• The National Institute of Health: Coping With Trauma after Violence and Disasters
• United Way of Connecticut: Helping Children and Families Cope With Trauma
• National Council of Teachers of English: Responding to Tragedy ins Schools – Supporting Teachers and Students

A sampling of books available from the library that address separation anxiety, fear and grief:

• A Terrible Thing Happened by Margaret M. Holmes - After Sherman sees something terrible happen, he becomes anxious and then angry, but whena counselor helps him talk about these emotions he feels better.
• Jenny is Scared!: When Sad Things Happen in the World by Carol Shuman –  When Jenny and her brother are frightened by events in the world, their parents help them talk about their fears and feel better.
• Love Waves by Rosemary Wells - While they are at work a mother and father send powerful “love waves” to their child at home, offering reassurance and comfort in their absence.
• The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn - When Chester the raccoon is reluctant to go to kindergarten for the first time, his mother teaches him a secret way to carry her love with him.
• The Kiss Box by Bonnie Verburg - As they prepare for a short separation, Mama Bear and Little Bear find a way to reassure each other while they are apart.
• Mommy in My Pocket by Carol Hunt Senderak - A little girl gets anxious about separation from her mommy when she goes to school.
• When Dinosaurs Die: a Guide to Understanding Death by Laurie KrasnyBrown - Explains in simple language the feelings people may have regarding the death of a loved one and the ways to honor the memory of someone who has died.
•  Growing Up Brave: Expert Strategies for Helping Your Child Overcome Fear, Stress, and Anxiety by Donna B. Pincus - One in five children today suffers from a diagnosed anxiety disorder, and countless others suffer from anxiety that interferes with critical social, academic, and physical development. The author, childhood anxiety expert, is here to help. In this book she helps parents identify and understand anxiety in their children, outlines effective and convenient parenting techniques for reducing anxiety, and shows parents how to promote bravery for long-term confidence.