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    • Limit children’s media exposure to the Colorado shooting tragedy

    In the wake of the tragic shooting at the screening of The Dark Knight Rises in Aurora, Colo., parents should encourage their kids to express their feelings and limit their media exposure to the tragedy, state experts from Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

    “Let them know we are safe here and there are many adults who are working hard to make sure they are safe”

    “This is a traumatic event for everyone-a tragic occurrence around a summer blockbuster movie,” states Bradley Hudson, MD, clinical psychologist and director of Community Mental Health at the USC University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, a partnership with the Division of General Pediatrics at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

    While it is normal for people to be affected by an event like this, most kids and adults cope well with their feelings and may not be permanently impacted, states Karen Rogers, PhD, psychologist and program area leader for Project Heal, a comprehensive therapeutic service for kids exposed to trauma and their families that is a part of the Audrey Hepburn CARES Program at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. “However, there are measures parents can take to lessen the effect on their children,” she says.

    “If your young child is a preschooler or younger and hearing the news again and again, he may not realize this is a singular event. He may think the event is repeating. It’s important to accentuate that the event is over,” states Hudson. Rogers observes that many families leave their TVs and radios on all day. “The exposure can be confusing, so turn off the television,” she says. Adds Hudson: “You also do not want your older kids being immersed in it. To the extent possible, monitor their exposure. If it’s on TV, participate with them and reassure them that they are safe.”

    Susan K. Gorry, lead child life Specialist, Child Life Program at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, states not every child needs to know what is going on. “If your child hasn’t heard about the tragedy in Colorado, we do not suggest starting the conversation. But you never know when your child might hear about it from another child or family. Parents have a crucial role in helping their kids express what they think or feel about what they saw.”

    How does a parent raise the subject? Hudson suggests that to break the ice with older children, “ask them what their friends are saying before asking them what they are feeling. They may be too sensitive to express their own feelings.” Adds Gorry: “If your child has heard about the tragedy, it is important for you not to ignore it or pretend that they have not heard about it. Encourage your child to ask questions so that you can fill in important details. You do not need to provide them with every single detail but, for children, the factual questions may be what they ask about first. Once they have asked about the details, then they will be more likely to be ready to speak about their feelings.”

    Rogers states parents can play a vital role in calming their children’s fears by stressing that there are bad people in the world, but these types of things do not happen very often. “Let them know we are safe here and there are many adults who are working hard to make sure they are safe,” she says.

    Watch Children with Previous Exposure to Trauma

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    Submited at Sunday, July 22nd, 2012 at 12:15 am on Uncategorized by Alina
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