Most schools have very clear policies regarding the use of violence and
intimidation against others. As a parent, knowing what these rules are allows
you to discuss them with your children. By elementary school, your kids
should know your family's as well as their school rules about violence.
Talk with them the importance of telling you—or another adult—right away
if they see or hear about a gun or other weapon. It's also a good idea to
talk with parents of your child's friends about whether there's a gun in
their home. If there is, make sure they've taken the necessary safety measures.
Having this kind of conversation may be uncomfortable, but keep in mind
nearly 40 percent of accidental handgun shootings of children under 16 occur
in the homes of friends and relatives.
Through talking
with your child about proper ways to express their frustration, you can
teach them how to appropriately express anger.
Children who
experience or witness violence often become anxious and fearful. If you
sense that a violent event (whether real or fictional) has upset your child,
you might say something like, "That TV program we saw seemed pretty
scary to me. What did you think about it?" and see where the conversation
leads. Your children may see the evening news or hear friends talk about
things that happen in other schools. The recent school violence should prompt
a frank discussion with your child about whether they have seen a classmate
bring a weapon to school or whether they have been in homes where kids played
with guns. You can reassure your child that their personal world can remain
safe by addressing these concerns directly. You can help reduce any worries
or fears they might have through providing consistent support and an open
environment and actively paying attention to their thoughts and feelings.
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Teach
your child to control their own anger and frustration and have frank
discussions with kids this age about respecting people's personal
space.
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