Following a mass school shooting tragedy at an elementary school in Texas there can be impacts on how children and students view those issues.

Kyle Kinne is a Licensed Mental Health Therapist with the Greene County School District and he advises adults to have open conversations when issues like a mass school shooting happens.

“Just check in with your kids, ask them about things, ask them open-ended questions about how they’re doing, what they’re thinking. Spend that time just having a dialogue with kids. Making sure that you pencil in some time that’s not during tv, or your Facebook time. It’s really, really tough with our lifestyle that we’re always on the go.”    

Kinne points out every kid is different and there are a range of reactions from not caring to changing their lives forever. He reassures parents that for some situations not having the answers to your child’s questions is acceptable.

“It’s okay not to know. As a parent, not knowing how to fix something, not knowing how to protect somebody, it can be a very alarming thing. Just being open and honest with them. Take your leads from them of how they are talking as far as if it is bothering them, it’s bothering them.”    

Kinne adds school counselors also provide guidance for students and can help them through traumatic experiences, even when school is not in session.