How can parents explain mass shootings to their young children
Parents can explain mass shootings to young children by offering brief, honest information, limiting frightening details, and emphasising that the child is loved and being kept safe by caring adults around them.
The aim is to answer the child’s questions, not to load them with more information than they are asking for.
Start with their age and what they know
For preschoolers and early primary school children, a one‑sentence explanation is usually enough, such as saying that someone hurt people with a gun, but it is over now and they are safe.
With children under about six, many experts suggest only raising it if they have already heard about it, seen images, or there is a drill or local impact they must participate in.
Ask what they have heard or seen first, then gently correct misunderstandings and fill in only the missing basics.
Let their questions guide how much more you say, instead of giving a long explanation they did not ask for.
Keep it simple, honest, and reassuring
Use clear, simple language: explain that a person chose to use a gun to hurt people, that this is wrong, and that most adults work hard to keep children safe.
Avoid graphic descriptions or repeated exposure to distressing images, which can increase fear and make the event feel like it is happening again and again.
Reassure them concretely: remind them of the adults and safety measures in their world (parents, teachers, locked doors, drills) and emphasise that events like this are rare.
It can help to highlight examples of helpers and bravery so children can hold on to stories of protection and kindness alongside the frightening parts.
Limit media and create space to talk
Limiting TV, radio, and online coverage around young children reduces unnecessary distress and confusion.
If they do see or hear something, turn it off, sit with them, and talk briefly about what they saw, checking how they are feeling.
Set aside calm, unrushed moments to talk, and invite questions over time, as many children process events in small pieces rather than all at once.
Let them express feelings through play, drawing, or stories, and watch for ongoing sleep problems, clinginess, or regression that might signal they need extra support from a health professional.
Validate feelings and model coping
Acknowledge that it is normal to feel scared, sad, or confused when hearing about people being hurt, and let them know it is okay to talk about those feelings.
Staying as calm as possible yourself, and showing how you cope (for example, by limiting news, talking to other adults, or doing soothing activities), gives children a template for managing their own reactions.
Over time, conversations about violence can be linked to everyday lessons about kindness, solving conflicts without hurting others, and telling a trusted adult if they ever feel unsafe.
This helps children move from helpless worry toward a small but important sense of agency and safety in their own world.
