Comments on: Explaining the Incomprehensible: What to Tell Kids About Sandy Hook http://mightygirl.com/2012/12/15/explaining-the-incomprehensible-what-to-tell-kids-about-sandy-hook/ Famous Among Dozens Wed, 22 May 2013 17:31:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Candy Wrapper http://mightygirl.com/2012/12/15/explaining-the-incomprehensible-what-to-tell-kids-about-sandy-hook/#comment-1257720 Candy Wrapper Mon, 17 Dec 2012 20:14:41 +0000 http://mightygirl.com/?p=21725#comment-1257720 Such a devastating event, our thoughts and prayers are with everyone in Newtown. Such a devastating event, our thoughts and prayers are with everyone in Newtown.

]]> By: ~Heather http://mightygirl.com/2012/12/15/explaining-the-incomprehensible-what-to-tell-kids-about-sandy-hook/#comment-1257711 ~Heather Mon, 17 Dec 2012 15:11:59 +0000 http://mightygirl.com/?p=21725#comment-1257711 This was an awesome NYT article to read. http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/15/how-not-to-talk-with-children-about-the-sandy-hook-shooting/?ref=us We don't watch the news and our kids (6 & 8) don't know anything about the CT event. Would it help them to know? I don't think so. They know the safety drills at school. They need to know to be prepared for an emergency, but they don't need to know the nuanced details of all possible emergencies to be ready for. In my day, our emergencies were for earthquakes and air raids from Russia. My big worry is kids at school today who heard stuff from parents who were in hysterical mode or who unintentionally exposed them to the media coverage. This was an awesome NYT article to read.
http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/15/how-not-to-talk-with-children-about-the-sandy-hook-shooting/?ref=us

We don’t watch the news and our kids (6 & 8) don’t know anything about the CT event. Would it help them to know? I don’t think so. They know the safety drills at school. They need to know to be prepared for an emergency, but they don’t need to know the nuanced details of all possible emergencies to be ready for. In my day, our emergencies were for earthquakes and air raids from Russia.

My big worry is kids at school today who heard stuff from parents who were in hysterical mode or who unintentionally exposed them to the media coverage.

]]> By: Jen C http://mightygirl.com/2012/12/15/explaining-the-incomprehensible-what-to-tell-kids-about-sandy-hook/#comment-1257709 Jen C Mon, 17 Dec 2012 14:52:23 +0000 http://mightygirl.com/?p=21725#comment-1257709 Both myself and my husband are educators (counselor and administrator respectively). We talked a little with our kindergarten-aged son over he weekend to suss out what he understood, what he didn't, and where he stood. I asked him about all the different drills they practice at school (fire/tornado/lock-down) so as not to highlight one over the other. He seemed very knowledgeable on all three. Who to look for, where to go, what to do, etc. I asked him what they are supposed to do if they see a "bad guy" in the school and where they go. He had a very specific answer for all of my questions, which made me feel quite relieved. The teenaged students I work with probably don't know as much as my 5 year-old! (though our son is detail oriented:) ) We didn't go into much detail about Sandy Hook with him, but did say something had happened and that little boys and girls had died. His main concern was for their families and friends. Mostly though he was more interested in building with his Legos and watching the International Space Station pass overhead at night. This morning when I arrived at work, the staff had fearful and sad eyes, but the teeangers here-burst into the building with the same crazy joy they always have. It was reassuring to know they feel just the same today as they did last week. I love my students so much (and am tearing up just writing this). It does me good to know they are handling this better than us adults. Though, often I think we analyize these events much deeper than they do. For them this weekend was about the big game, who broke up with who, the party on Saturday night, and how many days left until holiday break. Thank god for our kids. Both myself and my husband are educators (counselor and administrator respectively). We talked a little with our kindergarten-aged son over he weekend to suss out what he understood, what he didn’t, and where he stood. I asked him about all the different drills they practice at school (fire/tornado/lock-down) so as not to highlight one over the other. He seemed very knowledgeable on all three. Who to look for, where to go, what to do, etc. I asked him what they are supposed to do if they see a “bad guy” in the school and where they go. He had a very specific answer for all of my questions, which made me feel quite relieved. The teenaged students I work with probably don’t know as much as my 5 year-old! (though our son is detail oriented:) ) We didn’t go into much detail about Sandy Hook with him, but did say something had happened and that little boys and girls had died. His main concern was for their families and friends. Mostly though he was more interested in building with his Legos and watching the International Space Station pass overhead at night. This morning when I arrived at work, the staff had fearful and sad eyes, but the teeangers here-burst into the building with the same crazy joy they always have. It was reassuring to know they feel just the same today as they did last week. I love my students so much (and am tearing up just writing this). It does me good to know they are handling this better than us adults. Though, often I think we analyize these events much deeper than they do. For them this weekend was about the big game, who broke up with who, the party on Saturday night, and how many days left until holiday break. Thank god for our kids.

]]> By: Erin http://mightygirl.com/2012/12/15/explaining-the-incomprehensible-what-to-tell-kids-about-sandy-hook/#comment-1257707 Erin Mon, 17 Dec 2012 14:17:19 +0000 http://mightygirl.com/?p=21725#comment-1257707 What did you tell him as a plan "if he sees a gun at school?" Ugh. What did you tell him as a plan “if he sees a gun at school?” Ugh.

]]> By: Katie http://mightygirl.com/2012/12/15/explaining-the-incomprehensible-what-to-tell-kids-about-sandy-hook/#comment-1257686 Katie Mon, 17 Dec 2012 02:40:55 +0000 http://mightygirl.com/?p=21725#comment-1257686 Thank you for reaching out to us. It does help. Thank you for reaching out to us. It does help.

]]> By: A Day in May Design http://mightygirl.com/2012/12/15/explaining-the-incomprehensible-what-to-tell-kids-about-sandy-hook/#comment-1257685 A Day in May Design Mon, 17 Dec 2012 02:21:41 +0000 http://mightygirl.com/?p=21725#comment-1257685 Absolutely. There is no way to prepare any child or adult for something so incomprehensible as this tragedy. All we can do is band together to support those who've lost their loved ones. And be thankful for all those who protected the children the best way they could - true heroes. Absolutely. There is no way to prepare any child or adult for something so incomprehensible as this tragedy. All we can do is band together to support those who’ve lost their loved ones. And be thankful for all those who protected the children the best way they could – true heroes.

]]> By: Absquatulate http://mightygirl.com/2012/12/15/explaining-the-incomprehensible-what-to-tell-kids-about-sandy-hook/#comment-1257684 Absquatulate Mon, 17 Dec 2012 02:16:42 +0000 http://mightygirl.com/?p=21725#comment-1257684 This is good advice. Thanks for posting it. This is good advice. Thanks for posting it.

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