Ways to Talk to Children

In today’s world, it’s nearly impossible to shield children from the steady stream of distressing news—conflict, war, school shootings, and other traumatic events happening in our communities and across the globe. These stories often leave adults feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and uncertain. For children, they can be especially confusing and frightening.

At the Center for Child Counseling, we understand how challenging it can be to know what to say—or how to say it—when kids ask hard questions or show signs of worry. That’s why we’ve created “Ways to Talk”: a growing collection of tools and guidance to help parents, caregivers, educators, and professionals engage in meaningful, age-appropriate conversations with children and teens.

Our approach is grounded in trauma-informed care, positive communication, and emotional safety—giving you the confidence to respond with honesty, empathy, and reassurance. Whether your goal is to help a child process a specific event or simply create a safe space for expression, we’re here to help you start the conversation.

Grief is the intense emotional reaction and distress in response to loss, usually associated with death.

Grief can encompass other forms of loss, separation, or the ending of a close relationship. Grief is a natural process and often a significant part of processing and moving beyond the pain to create new direction and a shift in daily life.

The thought of having to explain grief to a child can leave us feeling uncertain about the best way to approach the topic to avoid causing unnecessary distress for the child. CLICK HERE for our free workshop or on the image to view or download the tip sheet.

Other Resources:

• The Dougy Center
• Children's Bereavement Center
• National Alliance for Children's Grief

The horror and heartbreak of a school shooting—or any act of senseless violence—can feel impossible to comprehend, even for adults. Explaining these events to children may seem overwhelming.

Whether you're talking about school shootings, war, or other traumatic events, our goal is to help you respond with calm, clarity, and compassion—providing children with the reassurance and emotional safety they need during uncertain times.

Click on the image to view or download the tip sheet. We hope this resource provides some guidance.

The Child Mind Institute has developed a variety of resources, in English and Spanish, with helpful strategies on dealing with anxiety - your kids' and your own. Their website is a reliable resource on a variety of topics.