- Washoe County School District
- Helping Youth and Students Cope with Scary News and Tragedy
Counseling
Page Navigation
- Department Homepage
- Child Abuse Prevention and Reporting
- Counselor & Social work PD
- Community Resources
- College & Career Scholarship
- Emergency Counseling Referrals & Resources
- Fire Recovery Resources
- Recursos Relacionados con Seguridad, Suicidio, Violencia, Abuso de Drogas y Bullying
- School & Student Safety
- Suicide Intervention & Resources
- Survey and Results
- Substance Abuse, Violence and Bullying Resources
- Helping Youth and Students Cope with Scary News and Tragedy
- 504 / Home Hospital
- My Civil Rights and Me!
- Safe Voice Links and Materials
- Handle With Care
- Mental Health Awareness
IT’S OK TO NOT FEEL OK. ESTÁ BIEN NO ESTAR BIEN
-
The heartbreaking and shocking news like the school shootings, disasters and tragedies are difficult to hear. While we are processing it as adults, we often wonder what to do to support our children. Here are some tools and links to help you with this information and to address your child if you are asked questions.
Please be sure to use the links and contact your school or mental health professional if you need more help. Counseling / Emergency Counseling Referrals & Resources (washoeschools.net)
While we can’t control or predict all violence, we can be sure to stabilize our families, stay connected and to report anything we see or hear.
All WCSD schools have access to safevoice to report safety concerns 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. .
SafeVoice Reporting System
Safe Voice is an anonymous reporting system to encourage students to report school and student safety concerns. By launching SafeVoice Nevada, the state has created a resource available through a hotline number (833-216-7233), a website (www.safevoicenv.org), and a mobile app. This platform is a quick, safe, and responsible way to let a team of professionals know about concerns or threats to student safety. All tips go first to the Department of Public Safety DPS. Reports can be made any time of day and any day of the week. By utilizing this reporting system, WCSD is working to protect student wellness, prevent violence, and save lives.
Links
-
Parents and school personnel can help children feel safe by establishing a sense of normalcy and security and talking with them about their fears.
Resilience in a time of war: Tips for parents and teachers of elementary school children
https://www.apa.org/topics/resilience/kids-war
Helping Your Students Cope With a Violent World
https://www.edutopia.org/blog/helping-students-cope-violent-world-richard-curwin
How to talk to your children about conflict and war
https://www.unicef.org/parenting/how-talk-your-children-about-conflict-and-war
National Association of School Psychologists Guide: Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers
Guía de la Asociación Nacional de Psicólogos Escolares: Conversando con sus niños sobre la violencia: sugerencias para padres y maestros.
1. Reassure children that they are safe. Emphasize that schools are very safe. Validate their feelings. Explain that all feelings are okay when a tragedy occurs. Let children talk about their feelings, help put them into perspective, and assist them in expressing these feelings appropriately.
Reasegurarles que están a salvo. Enfaticé que las escuelas son lugares seguros. Dar validez a los sentimientos de ellos. Hay que explicar que toda clase de sentimiento es aceptable cuando ocurre una tragedia. Dejar a los niños que hablen sobre sus sentimientos, ayudarles poner esos sentimientos en perspectiva, ayudarles a expresar apropiadamente estos sentimientos
2. Make time to talk. Let their questions be your guide as to how much information to provide. Be patient; children and youth do not always talk about their feelings readily. Watch for clues that they may want to talk such as hovering around while you do the dishes or yard work. Some children prefer writing, playing music, or doing an art project as an outlet. Young children may need concrete activities (such as drawing, looking at picture books, or imaginative play) to help them identify and express their feelings.
Acomodar y dar tiempo para hablar. Dejé que las preguntas del niño le guie en cuanto a que tanta información proporciona. Sea paciente. Los niños no siempre quieren hablar de sus sentimientos libremente. Mantenga la vigilancia para que note los indicios de que quieran hablar, tales como el rondarle cuando lava los platos o hace los quehaceres del jardín. Algunos niños prefieren expresarse por escrito, tocar música, o completar un proyecto de arte. Pueden necesitar los niños mas pequeños actividades concretas para ayudarles a identificar
3. Keep your explanations developmentally appropriate. Ask them to communicate any personal safety concerns they ever have to school administrators, and school staff - Use counselors and social workers to access support for emotional needs.
Mantenga las explicaciones apropiadas para el nivel de desarrollo. Pidales que comuniquen cualquier preocupación sobre su seguridad con los administradores escolares, y personal escolar. Use los consejeros y trabajadores sociales para recibir apoyo para sus necesidades emocionales.
4. Review safety procedures. This should include procedures and safeguards at school and at home. Help children identify at least one adult at school and in the community to whom they go if they feel threatened or at risk.
Revisar los procedimientos de seguridad. Se deben incluir reglamentos y protecciones en la escuela y los hogares. Ayude a los niños a identificar al menos un adulto en la escuela y en la comunidad a quien podría recurrir en el caso de que sienten amenazados o en peligro.
5. Observe children’s emotional state. Some children may not express their concerns verbally. Changes in behavior, appetite, and sleep patterns can also indicate a child’s level of anxiety or discomfort. In most children, these symptoms will ease with reassurance and time. However, some children may be at risk for more intense reactions. Children who have had a past traumatic experience or personal loss, suffer from depression or other mental illness, or with special needs may be at greater risk for severe reactions than others. Seek the help of mental health professional if you are at all concerned.
Observar el estado emocional de los niños. Algunos niños no expresarán sus inquietudes verbalmente. Pueden ser indicios del nivel de ansiedad o preocupación de los niños los cambios en el comportamiento, apetito, y hábitos de dormir. En la mayoría de niños, disminuirán estos síntomas al darles seguridad y con el paso de tiempo. No obstante, pueden correr el riesgo de intensas reacciones en algunos niños. Pueden corren mayor riesgo de reacciones severas los niños quienes han experimentado previas experiencias traumáticas o perdidas personales, los que sufren de depresión u otras enfermedades mentales, o los que tienen necesidades especiales. Si tiene cualquier inquietud se debe buscar la ayuda de un profesional de salud mental.
6. Limit television viewing of these events. Limit television and other media viewing and be aware if the television is on in common areas. Developmentally inappropriate information can cause anxiety or confusion, particularly in young children. Adults also need to be mindful of the content of conversations that they have with each other in front of children, even teenagers and limit their exposure to vengeful, hateful, and angry comments that might be misunderstood.
Limitar la observación de estos eventos en la televisión o medios sociales. Limite lo que ven en la televisión o medios sociales y sea consciente de la televisión prendida en algunos lugares comunales. Puede causar ansiedad y confusión la información que es inapropiada por el nivel de desarrollo del niño, especialmente para los niños pequeños. Los adultos también necesitan estar conscientes del contenido de las conversaciones que conducen con niños presentes, aun en frente de adolescentes, y limitar que escuchen los comentarios vengativos, odiosos y enfadados porque los pueden malentender.
7. Maintain a normal routine. Keeping to a regular schedule can be reassuring and promote physical health. Ensure that children get plenty of sleep, regular meals, and exercise. Encourage them to keep up with their schoolwork and extracurricular activities but don’t push them if they seem overwhelmed.
Mantener una rutina normal. Puede asegúrales y promover la salud física el mantener una rutina normal. Asegure que los niños duerman lo suficiente, que coman con regularidad, y hagan ejercicio. Aliénteles a mantenerse al tanto de las tareas y las actividades extra circulares, pero no a la fuerza, por que se sentirán agobiados.
Helping Youth and Students Cope with Scary News and Tragedy
-
Addressing Grief: Tips for Teachers and AdministratorsCommunity Violence: Reactions and Actions in Dangerous Times
If you’re like most youth across America, your life has been affected by violence outside your home. You might live in a place where fights, gangs, weapons, drug violence, rapes, and substance abuse seem “normal.”
Helping Children and Youth Cope After a Disaster or Traumatic Event
Children and youth can face emotional strains after a traumatic event such as a car crash or violence.1 Disasters also may leave them with long-lasting harmful effects.2 When children experience a trauma, watch it on TV, or overhear others discussing it, they can feel scared, confused, or anxious.
NASP Safe Environment
The 2016 election has been long and fraught with strong emotions. As a nation, we have much to do to heal the divisiveness that has resulted. As parents, caregivers, and educators, we have a critical responsibility to help children and youth feel safe and secure and learn how to engage with others of differing viewpoints in a peaceful, tolerant, and respectful manner.
NASP Talking to Parents and Teachers (EN)
High profile acts of violence, particularly in schools, can confuse and frighten children who may feel in danger or worry that their friends or loved-ones are at risk. They will look to adults for information and guidance on how to react. Parents and school personnel can help children feel safe by establishing a sense of normalcy and security and talking with them about their fears.
Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers (SP)
Actos de violencia que reciben mucha publicidad, particularmente los que ocurren en las escuelas, pueden confundir y asustar a niños que tal vez pueden sentir que ellos o sus amigos y seres queridos corren peligro. Se dirigirán a los adultos para información y para saber como reaccionar. Los padres y el personal de las escuelas pueden ayudar a que los niños sientan seguros al establecer un ambiente de normalidad y seguridad y conversar con ellos sobre sus temores.
SAMHSA - Incidents of Mass Violence
Learn about who is most at risk for emotional distress from incidents of mass violence and where to find disaster-related resources. Incidents of mass violence are human-caused tragedies that can impact whole communities and the country at large. These types of disasters, which include shootings and acts of terrorism, often occur without warning and can happen anywhere, as shown by the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy of 2012 and the events of September 11, 2001.
Talking to Children About Tragedies (EN, SP)
After any disaster, parents and other adults struggle with what they should say and share with children and what not to say or share with them.
Guide to Helping Children Cope with a Tramatic Event
Guidelines for Responding to the Death of a Student or School Staff
When Death Impacts your School
School Crisis Team Interventions
Addressing Gried: Tips for Teachers and Administrators
Helping Youth after Community Trauma