What do you tell your child?

HORRIFIC incidents like the Sandy Hook School shooting in the US in December, or the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe last month, give parents the difficult task of explaining or interpreting such happenings for their children.

“Parents have a very important role to play regarding what children hear and see in the media,” says Tara Smith, project worker with Barnardos.

How best to support your child will depend on his age and temperament — some children are curious about the facts, some can get upset about other people’s sadness.