How to talk to your children about the Ottawa attack

Watch above: Teaching young people to deal with events  in Ottawa

SASKATOON – Hour after hour, the coverage of the attack on our country’s capital on Wednesday had many stopped in their tracks. The images were intense and the senseless act was hard to wrap your head around. Even harder for parents to explain to their children.

“It’s important that we talk about what’s happening around the world but we do that with some consideration for children’s development and a way to reassure them so that they’re feeling safe,” said Patricia Prowse, superintendent of education with Saskatoon Public Schools.

FULL COVERAGE: Ottawa shooting

Starting Wednesday, children enrolled in the Saskatoon Public School system were given a three-page letter that included tips on how parents can talk to their children about the events that unfolded in Ottawa.

“We encourage parents to monitor the situation, to be aware of what their children may have heard about or may have seen on the news or in various media and we ask them to mediate that,” explained Prowse.

“I give them a bit to show them so that they’re up-to-date with what’s going and then we talk about it as a family,” said Kim Coles as she walked her son home from school.

Once an age appropriate discussion has taken place look for any signs of anxiety, take the time to listen to any concerns your children may have and help them feel safe.

“Reassure their child that schools are safe places to be and if they have any concerns to talk to an adult about that,” said Prowse.

Experts also recommend that you don’t leave the TV or radio on as background noise,;even young children can hear and see more than you think.

Students’ well-being is top priority for teachers so school officials say there is not a particular age when events are covered in the classroom.

“Our teachers are aware when these media events are there but we also ask them to use some caution when they are having the conversation so they’re doing so in a way that lowers the anxiety and reassuring the students they are safe while also covering the current event,” added Prowse.

With so many questions still left unanswered following the Parliament Hill attack, the biggest and the most difficult one to answer is why.

“There are bad guys in the world and that’s why we have superheros,” added Coles.