Surprised by how your child reacted to a tragic event?

If you’re unsettled or surprised by how your child reacted to a tragic event or crisis situation, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Don’t assume your child is emotionally or mentally messed up.
• Some events or situations may not faze your child, especially if he or she wasn’t directly involved or close to those who were.
• Your child may not have had time to fully process what happened.
• Don’t force a conversation your child isn’t ready to have about his or her feelings.
• If your child doesn’t want to talk, that’s okay. Be available and ask again later, after your child has had time to process his or her thoughts and feelings.