Responding to Tragic News
Posted by jglassman on
At BrainPOP, our mission is to help children make sense of the world. But what do we do when events defy explanation?
That’s what all of us have been grappling with these past few days as we try to process the attack on Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue. We mourn for the victims of this hate crime, including the first responders. And we are thinking about all the parents, caregivers, teachers, and children around the country who are grappling with this senseless act of violence.
Events like this have become all too common. As parents and teachers, you’ll face difficult questions as your kids try to process their feelings. To help you navigate these tricky waters, we are brainstorming one or more new topics to address moments of national mourning. Don’t be surprised if in the coming weeks or months we reach out to you for advice on how best to do that.
Meanwhile, for those of you turning to BrainPOP today, we suggest topics like Stress, Getting Help, and Anger (BrainPOP Jr.), which address how to cope with difficult emotions. To provide a social, political, and moral context, you might also take a look at our Terrorism topic. (NOTE: This movie contains sensitive content, including references to the events of September 11, 2001, so we advise viewing before showing). For immediate advice on answering kids’ questions, The Today Show offers an age-by-age guide developed by a parenting expert.
What resources do you use to help your kids through moments like this? Please share in the comments, or contact us directly.
