In the wake of a crisis or tragic event, whether close to home or abroad, parents and caregivers may struggle with how to best communicate with and support their children. On this page, experts share tips and tools to initiate the conversation, use age appropriate language, correct misinformation and validate our children’s feelings. Equally important, to check-in with ourselves first. Scroll down for a curated links to national resources. For instructions to view this page in Spanish, click on en Español.
Families Connected Resources
Strategies to effectively talk with children and teens during crisis
NEW VIDEO RELEASE 12/7/23 - Leah Niehaus, LCSW discussing school threats with your children.
Anna Pirkl, M.A., MFT, ATR, LAADC, shares specific tips for parents and caregivers to connect with their children during times of trauma or uncertainty.
Click on the image to enlarge for tips and questions to start the conversation with your kids
Related resources for parents and guardians
Access resources created for teens
Curated Gallery of Resources
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Discussing school safety
Click on the image to enlarge a helpful pdf, or Access the full article, Talking with Children About Violence from NASP, including translations in other languages.
School Security Measurers and Their Impact on Students (NASP)
Mitigating Negative Psychological Effects of School Lockdowns (NASP)
Prevent Gun Violence by Knowing the Signs (Sandy Hook Promise)
Helping youth manage emotions during crisis or trauma
Source: NPR.com
How to Ask What Kids Are Feeling (Child Mind Institute)
Use RULER’s Mood Meter, a downloadable app to help your child understand and express their emotions (Yale)
Guide: Helping Children Cope After a Trauma - Age specific and in all languages (Child Mind Institute)
Supporting youth during times of war and terrorism
How to Talk with Kids about the Israel-Hamas War (Boston University) - key points include:
How to Talk with Children About the Violence in Israel and Gaza (NPR)
How To Talk with Kids About the War in Israel and Gaza (Greater Good Science Center)
Explaining the News to Our Kids (Common Sense Media)
What to Say When the News Is Scary (NPR Lifekit)
How to Talk to Kids About Violence, Crime, and War (Common Sense Media)
Anger Can Be Contagious - Here’s How to Stop the Spread (KQED/MindShift)
Helping Children Cope With Terrorism: Tips for Families and Educators (National Association of School Psychologists)
Terrorism and War: How to Talk to Children (American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry)
Table Talk: Family Conversations About Current Events (The ADL)
Tips for Talking with Children and Youth After a Traumatic Event - age specific PDF (SAMHSA)
5 Tips for Talking with Kids About What’s Going On (Greater Good Magazine)
Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers (National Association of School Psychologists)
From COVID to Ukraine Anxiety: 5 ways to cope with the stressful news cycle (NPR)
Talking with our children about racism, hate and violence
Click on image to enlarge
Talking to Children After Racial Incidents (Penn GSE)
Talking with Kids About Hate in Media (Media Smarts)
Discussing Hate and Violence With Children: A guide and downloadable brochure in English or Spanish (The ADL)
Talking with Your Children About Tragic Events (The Dougy Center)
What Estranged Families Can Teach Us About the Political Divide (Greater Good Magazine)
George Floyd. Ahmaud Arbery. Breonna Taylor. What do we tell our children? (USA Today)
Talking with your children in the aftermath of gun violence
How to Help Children Cope with a Gun Violence Tragedy (Sandy Hook Promise)
Helping Children Manage Distress in the Aftermath of a Shooting (American Psychological Association)
How to talk to children about shootings: An age-by-age guide (Today.com)
How to Talk to Kids About School Shootings (Child Mind Institute)
What to Say to Kids About School Shootings to Ease Their Stress (NPR)
Nine Tips for Talking to Kids About Trauma (Greater Good Science Center)
A PDF on Talking to Kids About School and Community Shootings (National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement)
Helping youth discern between fact and fiction
Click on tHe Image to Enlarge
Best News Sources for Kids by age (Common Sense Media)
How to Think Like a Fact Checker (Screenagers)
Help Students Fact Check the Web Like Pros (Common Sense Media)
Teens Need To Be Able To Discern Fact from Fiction (Education Week)
Real News, Fake News or Opinion - Teaching our Students to Discern the Difference (KQED)
For More Youth Wellness Resources, Visit:
For South Bay parents and caregivers
Go to South Bay Families Connected for educational events, the Virtual Teen Center, the SBFC monthly parent e-newsletter, and more. For mental health referrals and support groups, go to Beach Cities Health District.
For parents and caregivers in the U.S.A.
Visit the Families Connected landing page for non-region-specific, free youth wellness online resources.