So many tragic things have been in the news recently, and because they are so much on our hearts and minds, graphic discussion and pictures of these events are literally everywhere, to such an extent that as much as we might like to protect the children in our lives from the knowledge of such terrible things, chances are they will become aware of them. It’s hard to know how to help children understand what we ourselves cannot understand. How do we answer their questions, and help them feel safe in a world that is sometimes frightening?
I want to share with you a website that one of our wonderful teachers, Miss Betty, sent me. I hope it will be helpful to parents and others who care for young children. It was written by Fred Rogers. I had heard Mr. Rogers’ story about “looking for the helpers,” before, as many of you have, but I had not seen this page in which he writes in detail about ways adults can help children cope with scary news. I hope it will be helpful. I miss Mr. Rogers!