This list of resources from reputable organizations can help families, educators and anyone working with children talk to kids about tragedies and violence. Click each link below to visit that particular web resource.

• Talking to Kids about Tragedies (Such as Shootings and Terror Attacks) in the News — National Center for School Crisis
  and Bereavement (Added 3/29/23)

• How to Talk to Your Child About the News — tips for parents by KidsHealth from the Nemours Foundation. (Added 2/20/18)

• Talking with Children When the Talking Gets Tough (PDF) — Judith A. Myers-Walls, Extension Specialist, Purdue University

• How to Talk to Children About Difficult News — Resources from the American Psychological Association

• Resources from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network — Search and find reports, briefs, tip sheets, curriculua, webinars, and more, sorted by trauma types including terrorism, disasters, neglect, abuse, medical, racial, refugee, and community or school violence.

• Talking With Children About Tragedies & Other News Events — American Academy of Pediatrics

• Helping Children Cope After a Traumatic Event — Child Mind Institute

• Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers — National Association of School Psychologists

• Sesame Street in Communities — bilingual videos, storybooks, and digital activities, designed to help children cope with traumatic experiences, featuring Sesame Street Muppets

• Disasters: Children's Responses and Helping Them Recover — Research-based fact sheet for parents and caregivers from Kansas State University. Spanish version also available

• Helping Children Cope with Disaster — downloadable PDF booklet from FEMA and the American Red Cross

• Shelter from the Storm — tips from ZERO TO THREE for parents and caregivers of babies and toddlers staying in emergency shelters

• Helping Children After a Natural Disaster — National Association of School Psychologists

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Institute of Mental Health offer tips for parents to help youth cope with disaster.

• The University of MN Extension & NDSU Extension Service encourage professionals working with disaster recovery to check out The Recovery After Disaster: The Family Financial Toolkit and the Financial Recovery After Disaster Video Series for strategies and tools to help disaster survivors assess their current financial situation and make plans for long-term recovery.

• Book: What Happened to My World: Helping Children Cope with Natural Disaster and Catastrophe by Jim Greenman. (2005). Published by Comfort for Kids. Free download available (PDF)

• After a Crisis: Helping Young Children Heal — This checklist from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) provides ways to help children cope in the wake of a traumatic event. NCTSN also offers mobile apps for providers and parents to help children cope after a disaster.

• Resources to Help Children in the Aftermath of a Hurricane — blogpost with additional resources from Child Trends

• American Academy of Pediatrics: Talking to Children About Disasters

• Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration: Disaster Distress Helpline

• Scholastic and Forbes have compiled lists of children’s books about hurricanes.

• American Red Cross: Reducing Fear in Uncertain Circumstances

• Children, Youth and Families Education and Research Network: Family Support in Times of Tragedy

• National Association of School Psychologists: Helping Children Cope with Terrorism

• How to Talk to a Child About a Suicide Attempt in Your Family — This includes several written guides, videos, and other resources to help parents talk to children of various ages about a suicide attempt in the family. Specific resources include:

  • How to Talk to a Preschooler (written)

  • How to Talk to a School Age Child (written)

  • How to Talk to a Teenager (written)

  • How to Talk to a Child About a Suicide Attempt in Your Family (video)

  • How to Talk to a Child About a Suicide Attempt in Your Family (Spanish-language video)

  • Talking to Preschool Children About a Suicide Attempt (video)

  • Talking to School Age Children About a Suicide Attempt (video)

  • Talking to Teenagers About a Suicide Attempt (video)

  The collection was put together by the Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education & Clinical Center (MIRECC) for Suicide Prevention.