Dear Avon,
We continue to monitor news coming from Texas. There are no words.
The internet tells me that Buffalo, NY is 67 miles from where I sit, and Uvalde, Texas is 1,770.9 miles. Yet, it all feels close to home. I'm sad to be writing to you in the wake of these tragedies.
Children may be confused and upset by what they are seeing on the news. What we, as caring people, can do is to play a positive role in the creation of a world with less hate and less violence. We can model and we can listen. We can continue to do our part every day. The conversations are not easy. Please listen and engage with the children and with one another. Let others know they are loved. There are no magic words. Be responsive. Trust your gut. Simply 'being there' helps. Notice.
Here are some resources that may help. These links will also be accessible on the ACS website News section. We have activated the Trauma, Illness, and Grief Team (TIG). Our TIG Team, in partnership with a regional TIG network, will be pulling together additional resources and making them available.
Thank you for your care and support.
Dr. Ryan Pacatte
Resources to help parents cope themselves and strategies on how parents can help their kids:
Harvard EdCast: Discussing Tragedy with Children | Harvard Graduate School of Education
Discussing Tragedy With Your Children - Cognitive Behavior Institute (papsychotherapy.org)
Helping children cope: Tips for talking about tragedy - Mayo Clinic
Parent Guidelines for Helping Youth After Mass Violence - NCTSN
Assisting Parents/Caregivers in Coping with Collective Traumas- NCTSN