A therapist friend recently shared this resource with me, created specifically to help parents talk to their kids and help them process in the aftermath of the June 2016 attack in Orlando at Pulse nightclub.

Just over a year ago, our country was reeling from the aftermath of this attack; however, the scary truth is that shootings, terror attacks, and hate crimes are becoming more and more frequent. It is frightening enough for adults to cope with- imagine what it must be like to grow up having to worry that there will be a shooter at your school, movie theater, or sporting event; that you will be targeted for your faith, your skin color, for being queer, or for speaking out too loudly for what you believe in.

Furthermore, with access to the internet and social media, kids are now increasingly aware of attacks that occur across the globe as well as those that happen on US soil.

Many parents are at a loss for how to guide and reassure their children in this climate of unrest and increasingly frequent violence. I wanted to share this simple guide here, for although it is my hope that it won’t be needed again, the reality is that learning how to deal with and respond to attacks of this kind will be vital for our upcoming generations. Starting these tough conversations with our kids can help create space for them to feel sad, scared, and angry and set them up to be able to cope effectively and feel secure in an unpredictable and often frightening world.

Written By; Molly Halbrooks, LAMFT