We’re all shaken by the events that took place in Washington, DC last week and it may seem like you need to jump in and address things right away, but pausing to work through your own feelings before talking to kids about theirs is an important step. When you feel ready to talk, kids will benefit from an open, calm conversation. Kids look to parents and teachers to see how they should react. Modeling a calm, rational response and making space for questions will help kids feel less anxious and help your family process the news in a healthy way.
As kids of all ages look to us for guidance, here are some ways to help them understand what’s going on and deal with any anxiety they may be feeling.
Helping Kids Understand the Riots at the Capitol