Trauma Resources for Families, Children, and Teens

For Parents & Caregivers

Starting the conversation

• Helping Children with Tragic Events in the News (from PBS Parents)
• How to Talk with Kids About Violence, Crime, and War (from Common Sense Media)
• Helping Children Cope With Tragedy (National Association of Elementary School Principals)
• Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers (from National Association of School Psychologists (NASP))
  • Reassure your child they are safe. Validate their feelings and put them in perspective.
  • Make time to talk. Be patient and give your child the space to communicate.
  • Keep explanations developmentally appropriate.
    
    • Early elementary and younger: Provide brief, simple information balanced with reassurances that they are safe.
    • Upper elementary and early middle school: Be prepared for multiple questions. Provide simple, honest answers. Focus on separating misconceptions from reality.
    • Upper middle school and high school: Be prepared for strong opinions about the causes of violence in society. Emphasize the role that they have in keeping themselves and other safe.
  • Review safety procedures so your child knows what to do in a crisis.
  • Observe your child’s emotional state. Contact a mental health professional if you’re worried.
  • Limit media consumption of the events.
  • Maintain a normal routine.

Helping with healing

• National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)
• Helping Children Cope After a Traumatic Event (from Child Mind Institute)
• Managing Strong Emotional Reactions to Traumatic Events: Tips for Families and Teachers (from NASP)
• Helping Young Children with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers (from NCTSN)
• Helping School-Age Children with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers (from NCTSN)
• Helping Teens with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers (from NCTSN)
• After a Crisis: Helping Young Children Heal (from NCTSN)
• Creating Supportive Environments When Scary Things Happen (from NCTSN)
• Psychological First Aid: Parent Tips for Helping School-Age Children after Disasters (from NCTSN)
• Age-Related Reactions to a Traumatic Event (from NCTSN)

For Teens

• Resilience in a Time of War: Tips for Parents and Teachers of Middle School Children (American Psychological Association)
• For Teens: Coping After Mass Violence (from NCTSN): A quick fact sheet with advice and resources.
• Go Ask Alice (from Columbia University New York): Want to ask questions about emotional health anonymously? Ask Alice, the team of health care professionals who answer on their site. There's over 25 years of anonymous questions answered there, too.
• How to Talk to Your Parents or Guardian about Your Mental Health (from National Alliance on Mental Illness)
• Sieze the Awkward (from the JED Foundation and American Foundation for Suicide Prevention): Talking about mental health is awkward. This site is intended to help start those conversations.

For Kids

• Resilience in a Time of War: Tips for Parents and Teachers of Elementary School Children (American Psychological Association)
• What is Violence?: This YouTube video from Sesame Street is aimed at preschoolers.
• Sesame Street in Communities—Traumatic Experiences: A page with resources and activities for caregivers and preschoolers to work through together in reaction to traumatic experiences.
• Sesame Street in Communities—Violence: A page with resources and activities for  caregivers and preschoolers to work through together in reaction to violence. 

Shooting-related resources

• Talking to Children about the Shooting (PDF from National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN))
• How to talk to children about shootings: An age-by-age guide (from The Today Show)
• Safe2Help Illinois: A confidential, secure tool by the State of Illinois designed to help students talk anonymously about threats to school safety.