Parents, caregivers, and educators can all play an important role in helping children recover from exposure to traumatic events. Below is a compilation of resources for talking with children about tragic events in the news including war, violence, racism, and natural disasters.
Navigating these conversations isn't easy, but these resources can be helpful for both children and adults.
Conversations about Tragic Events
- The Children's Museum of Indianapolis
Resources for Parents During News of Tragic Events
https://www.childrensmuseum.org/blog/parent-resources-tragic-events - Children's Creativity Museum, San Francisco
Coping with Traumatic Events
https://creativity.org/coping-with-trauma/ - Association of Children's Museums
Museum Resources for Talking about Tragic Events with Children - PBS Kids
Helping Children with Tragic Events in the News
https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/helping-children-with-tragic-events-in-the-news - A Mighty Girl booklists
- When You Worry Too Much: 25 Books to Help Kids Overcome Anxiety, Worry, and Fear
https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=22612 - Understanding The Way I Feel: 50 Mighty Girl Books About Managing Emotions
https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=11449
- When You Worry Too Much: 25 Books to Help Kids Overcome Anxiety, Worry, and Fear
- American Academy of Pediatrics
Talking With Children About Tragedies & Other News Events
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Media/Pages/Talking-To-Children-About-Tragedies-and-Other-News-Events.aspx - National Association of School Psychologists
https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-safety-and-crisis/school-violence-resources/talking-to-children-about-violence-tips-for-parents-and-teachers - National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement
https://www.schoolcrisiscenter.org - National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)
https://www.nctsn.org
Talking with Children about Racial Injustice
- Talking About Race from the National Museum of African American History & Culture
https://nmaahc.si.edu/learn/talking-about-race - Addressing Racial Injustice with Young Children
https://www.embracerace.org/resources/something-happened-in-our-town-addressing-racial-injustice-with-young-children - Talking Race with Young Children (NPR Life Kit)
https://www.npr.org/2019/04/24/716700866/talking-race-with-young-children - A Resource for Talking about Race with Young Children
http://www.raceconscious.org/2016/06/100-race-conscious-things-to-say-to-your-child-to-advance-racial-justice - How White Parents Can Use Media to Raise Anti-Racist Kids (Common Sense Media)
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/how-white-parents-can-use-media-to-raise-anti-racist-kids - Books That Promote Tolerance and Diversity (Common Sense Media)
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/books-that-promote-tolerance-and-diversity - Books to Support Conversations on Race
https://www.embracerace.org/resources/topic/reading-race-in-picture-books-with-kids
https://www.embracerace.org/resources/childrens-books - Association of Children's Museums list of resources for Talking about Racism with Children
https://childrensmuseums.blog/2020/06/17/museum-resources-for-talking-about-racism-with-children/ - Center for Parent Information Resources -Talking about Race with Our Children
https://www.parentcenterhub.org/race-matters-children - Talking with kids about racial injustice: practical tips for parents from Minnesota Children's Museum
Recorded webinar Spring 2021: https://mcm.org/talking-to-kids-racial-injustice/
Tip sheet and resource lists: https://mcm.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Tipsheet.pdf - More resources: https://www.nisenet.org/racialjustice
Coronavirus COVID-19 and Vaccines
- Coronavirus COVID-19 Resources
https://www.nisenet.org/coronavirus - COVID-19 Vaccine Museum Resources
https://www.nisenet.org/vaccine