As children witness looting, rioting and explosions, whether in the news or in person, Dr. Katherine Napalinga, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Einstein Medical Center Philadelphia, says adults need to address the chaos.
"You can’t ignore it or deny that it’s happening in the interest of shielding the kid from the world or protecting the kid from the world, because it’s there," Napalinga said. "Just because you are avoiding it doesn’t mean it’s not there and your kids not going to be exposed to it in the future.”
She says children will have questions.
"Why are there trucks on fire? Why are we hearing gunshots? Why are people yelling in the streets? You might want to explain it to them in a factual way using simple words, but not overexposing them to the violence," she said.
She suggests parents explain the reason for the unrest in terms the child can understand. Tell them about racial injustice and why people are angry.
Listen to your child, respond to their fears, and assure them that they are safe.
Napalinga says this is a good time to teach children empathy and acceptance, and how our differences should be valued and appreciated.
If children aren’t talking about it, ask them what they think and what they understand, and answer questions honestly.
However, Napalinga cautions against exposing kids to too much of the visuals, saying it could increase their anxiety and fear.