Schools are supposed to be a safe place for kids and students. But when an incident involving gun violence strikes, it often rocks the trust and safety they felt while in class.
Gun violence at schools can be very traumatic for students. These incidents can cause kids to become frightened, confused, depressed and even make them feel that they are in danger wherever they go.
The Tri-Cities was shook Monday when a former Yakima police officer gunned down his ex-wife outside William Wiley Elementary School in West Richland, where she worked as a paraeducator.
Elias Huizar’s 17-year-old girlfriend also was found dead in a nearby house. Huizar died by suicide the next day in a confrontation with police on Interstate 5 near Eugene, Ore.
Here are some resources that parents and teachers can use to help answer student questions and help them cope if they’ve experienced a traumatic event.
Reassure they’re safe. Make time to talk
The National Association of School Psychologists recommends adults make time for kids to talk. It’s important to let children speak about their feelings and to help them put their ideas into perspective. It can also be good to help them express their emotions and feelings appropriately.
Children may be curious about an incident. But if they’re not, don’t push, says Nemours KidsHealth .
“Let children’s questions be your guide as to how much information to provide,” the associated says.
“Be patient. Children and youth do not always talk about their feelings readily. Watch for clues that they may want to talk... Some children may not express their concerns verbally. Changes in behavior, appetite, and sleep patterns can also indicate a child’s level of anxiety or discomfort.”
Maintain a normal routine
Traumatic incidents can be tough to deal with, but they shouldn’t stop families from going about their daily routines.
“Doing things we enjoy, sticking to normal routine, and being with friends and family help make us feel better and help keep us from worrying about the event,” the school psychologist association says.
It’s also important to observe a child’s emotional state. Children who have past traumatic experiences or have experienced previous personal loss may be at risk of more severe reactions than others.
Parents should correct misinformation and speculations a child may communicate and to limit their attention to social media or TV.
Make discussions age appropriate
While there’s no one “correct” way to discuss gun violence with children, professionals recommend making discussions age appropriate.
Parents need to decide what messages they want their children to take away from the discussion and how much they want to share.
Dr. Deborah Giboa, a parenting expert who was interviewed on NBC’s “Today,” recommends keeping it to a “one-sentence story” for kids under 6.
It’s important to “shield” elementary-age kids and “balance out” negative aspects by focusing on the positives of the situations, especially if they were witness to traumatic events or see graphic images on television.
Tell them about how safe schools are and who to talk to if they see something that concerns them.
With young teenagers, or “tweens,” parents should focus on inquiry and listening to their feelings. It’s important to open a dialogue, answer questions and to display empathy.
Older teenagers may expect more, Giboa says.
“Teenagers are looking for hypocrisy and solutions and this generation believes in collaboration and social justice. And they are going to ask, ‘What are you doing,’” she said.
School gun violence
Last year, in 2023, there were 38 shooting incidents that happened on school campuses, according to data produced by Education Week .
That includes any incident in which at least one person other than the individual firing the weapon is injured by gunfire on school property when school is in session or at a school-sponsored event.
It was the second-highest year for overall incidents since the education publication began tracking them in 2018, following the school shooting in Parkland, Florida. Despite these numbers, research has shown that public schools on the whole are very safe spaces for kids and adults.
“Adults themselves may struggle with the growing reality of mass violence in the United States, particularly gun violence,” writes the school psychologist association.
“However, caregivers and school personnel have a responsibility to help children and youth feel safe by establishing a sense of normalcy and security, reinforcing their natural resilience, and talking with them about their fears,” they said.
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