Beth Trammell is a licensed psychologist and an associate professor of psychology at Indiana University East. Trammell states the rising cases of mass shootings have a varying impact on kids, but every child is impacted in some way. Kids may experience active shooter drills at school, or they may be anxious or depressed because of the increased rates of school shootings in the United States. Children are focused on safety, and these shootings can invoke the feeling that they will not be safe. Older children with their own devices have seen the headlines about mass shootings and may be even more affected. It is important for parents to open the door to conversations with their children to help them manage their emotions around these mass shootings. She says kids mimic their parents’ reaction to nearly every situation. Children will look up to their parents to figure out how to respond to the news of a mass shooting. Therefore, it is important that parents heal and process their own emotions surrounding mass shootings first. This does not mean parents should hide their emotions from their kids, but rather they should process and share that emotion in a healthy manner rather than placing all the fear and sadness onto the child. Finding support and a space for the parent to process their own emotions is an important part of ensuring their children respond to mass shootings in a healthy manner. Trammell understands talking about mass shootings with a child may seem scary at first. Parents are likely unsure of when to bring up the topic or at what age a kid is old enough to have a healthy conversation about mass shootings. This is why Trammell encourages parents to think about their own child’s overall maturity and their level of anxiety or depression. Parents should then adjust the amount of information they share based on their child’s unique needs. One main point Trammell notes is that kids may not feel safe bringing up the topic of mass shootings on their own. This means it is the parent’s job to open the door for this conversation with their child. Trammell recommends parents consider how much information their child needs to be brought back to a sense of security as well as when would be the right time to discuss such difficult topics. She notes that discussing mass shootings with a child right before school or late at night before the child goes to sleep are likely unhealthy choices. Parents should try to find an ideal time when they are emotionally regulated and their child is also experiencing an emotionally regulated day. Then, parents should ask curiosity-based questions, such as “What have you heard about the recent shooting?” or “What are you curious about when you hear about these shootings?” or “Have you been curious about those drills you have done at school?” Trammell encourages curiosity-based questions as well as mimicking the way a child asks a question. If a child says they are scared something might happen at school, parents should reflect by asking questions like “What is it you are scared of?” Using those emotion words back at a child is an important part of having these difficult conversations.