There is no doubt that as the world watches the tragedy that hit Boston yesterday, many parents are unsure of how to approach the subject with their children. As the story evolves, more pictures, videos and personal narratives are showing up depicting innocent runners and bystanders affected. Sadly, the death toll number continues to climb, and the Boston marathon bombings brings fear and confusion to families.

Here are some tips when discussing the evolving story with your children:

1. Tell your children that they are safe.
2. Tell your children that affected people are getting better with the help of doctors and nurses.
3. Offer your children to write or color a card to scan and post on FB or send to Boston.
4. Make a family project to collect for charity or do a good deed this week in honor of the 8 year old victim and others affected.
5. Talk age appropriately and keep the news channels off around children.

It can be difficult to take away any positive from such baseless acts of terror. And yet, in the midst all this horror, the good people sprung into action to help. Try to focus on the kindness of people when talking about the tragedy. Point out how many bystanders, runners, and strangers ran to help those that were hurt. Mr. Rogers put it perfectly when he said: “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”

Please read this blog by two LCSW’s on ways to handle tragedy with children