A fourth grader who survived the school shooting last month in Uvalde, Texas, by covering herself with her classmate’s blood will testify next week before a congressional hearing on gun violence.
“It’s impossible for us to think about this, even as grownups, so it’s unimaginable to think about our kids,” said Beth Trammell, associate professor of psychology at IU-East.
As a clinical psychologist, Trammell has worked with parents and children for more than 15 years and specializes in how to have difficult conversations with children.
She said it’s important for parents to gather facts and reflect on what their child needs to know based on the child’s mental health before starting conversations with them about such topics as a school shooting.
“I would start by asking them what they’ve heard or what they know, because that gives us the opportunity to correct any misinformation,” Trammell said. “And, as often as you can, reassure them about their safety and ways they can continue to make themselves safe.”
She said school shootings affect every child, whether they’re involved in the shooting or not.
“All of our kids are going to be forever scarred – whether that’s just a little bit where they think about ‘could this happen to me at my school’, just when they step onto school grounds, or if they have kind of developed debilitating anxiety or fear,” Trammell said.
News and images of school shootings on TV and social media can trigger anxiety in both adults and children, according to Trammell.
“If folks want to watch the news, I usually tell them to watch it at a prescribed time where they can prepare themselves for a potential spike in anxiety,” she said. “And if your kids are generally anxious, then I would probably keep them as much as you can away from watching those continuing stories.”
Trammell said it’s important to pay attention to any cues children give that may reveal their mental states.
