The Tucson tragedy. The Gardena High School shooting. School campuses on lockdown. The barrage of negative news stories, coupled with violent images on television, can be disheartening for adults and even more challenging for children. As journalists and engaged citizens, it’s our job to be informed about the world around us. But is all this bad news appropriate for children? Parents and psychologists differ in their approaches. Some parents keep the news switched off when the kids are around. Others sit with their children and try to explain what’s going on and why it doesn’t mean they’re in direct danger. How does your family listen to or watch the news? How should teachers deal with these difficult issues in the classroom? Is there a way to inform our little ones without traumatizing them?
Guest:
Catherine Mogil, Associate Director of the Child and Family Trauma Psychiatry Service at UCLA Medical School
Dr. Joseph Harazti, Psychiatrist, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, at USC Medical School
Pia Escudero, Director of School Mental Health and Crisis Counseling for Los Angeles Unified