All of us are heartbroken as we watch the news of the tragic shooting In
Kansas City today. We mourn for the victims, their families, and the
community as they navigate such a horrific event.
A tragedy of this magnitude hits especially close to home. When events
such as this occur, it can shatter our assumptions and make our world
seem unsafe—especially in the eyes of a child.
Every day at our schools, parents place their trust in the teachers,
administrators, and support staff to keep our children safe, and this
responsibility is taken very seriously. All of us collectively remain in
constant focus on safety and student well-being in our schools and in
our community. Schools are a safe place for students, and it is our
shared responsibility to provide a consistent source of support for
students.
At home, images on TV and online can be difficult to avoid during a
tragedy. Parents and staff may be wondering how to talk about such an
event with children. If you are struggling with this conversation, here
are articles that can help:
- https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-safety-and-crisis/school-violence-resources/talking-to-children-about-violence-tips-for-families-and-educators (National Association of School Psychologists)
- https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-safety-and-crisis/school-violence-resources/recovery-from-large-scale-crises-guidelines-for-crisis-teams-and-administrators (National Association of School Psychologists)
- Helping your children manage distress in the aftermath of a shooting (American Psychological Association)
- 10 Strategies for Talking to Children About School Shootings (Psychology Today)
- https://youth.gov/feature-article/resources-help-youth-cope-after-mass-shooting (youth.gov)
Along with the above articles, the following are some strategies for teachers, but they are equally appropriate for parents:
- Do be available. Show support, listen, encourage questions, and validate the child’s feelings.
- Don’t use euphemisms. Equating death with sleep or going away causes the child to be anxious about falling asleep or loved ones leaving on trips. Some younger children will have difficulty with the concept that death is permanent.
- Do be honest with a child. If you do not know the answer to a question, say so.
- Don’t overwhelm the child. Often children need simple facts, not long explanations.
- If possible, increase your availability if your child wants to talk about his/her concerns.
- Ask older children to be mindful of discussions that could be upsetting to younger children.
- Watch for behavior that deviates from the norm and seek guidance when this occurs.
- Additional resources can be found in the Kansas City area at https://dmh.mo.gov/disaster-services/mass-violence
- Statewide 988 suicide and crisis Lifeline is also available as a resource used for much more than suicidal thoughts. Reach out to the 988 by calling or texting 988, or chatting at https://988lifeline.org/
As you help those around you, remember to take care of yourselves.
Practice self-care, use your employee assistance plans (EAP), and
remember that many health insurance companies offer free resources
during catastrophic events.
Now, and every day, we must take care of each other. In the coming days, as
we watch and grieve with the affected families in Kansas City, we are
thankful for our families, friends and community, and our hearts ache
for those whose world has been dramatically changed by tragedy.
Please reach out to MSBA’s Center for Education Safety for any further guidance or needs: 573-445-9920, ext. 421 or ces@mosba.org.
Sincerely,
Melissa Randol
Executive Director
Missouri School Boards’ Association
John McDonald
Chief Operating Officer
Center for Education Safety