Experts: Parents should limit child’s exposure to Vegas attack coverage

<p>The stories and images coming out of the Las Vegas mass shooting are disturbing &ndash; especially for young children.</p>

News 12 Staff

Oct 4, 2017, 12:42 AM

Updated 2,537 days ago

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The stories and images coming out of the Las Vegas mass shooting are disturbing – especially for young children.
Experts say that parents should limit how much exposure children have to tragic events such as this.
“Kids, although they don’t always show it and they don’t always express themselves, they clearly are thinking about it,” says Dr. Susan Brill, director of adolescent medicine at the Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University.
Dr. Brill says that children and their parents should limit the amount of focus on the Las Vegas attack. She says parents should also look for signs their child is having a difficult time coping.
“Are they eating OK? Are they sleeping OK? Are they attending school? Do they look happy?” she says.
Experts say the parents should talk to their kids about what is going on. They say that parents shouldn’t lie about the tragedy, but just give the children basic information and leave out the graphic details.
The attack in Las Vegas was the second attack at a concert in less than six months. A bomb went off at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, United Kingdom in May.
Dr. Brill says that people should not be afraid to attend events at big venues. She says that people should empower themselves by being aware and making a plan in case something goes wrong.
“Let’s make sure where the exits are.  Let’s make sure we know where our car is.  Let’s make sure we have a meeting point if we split up,” she says. “Just assure them that in general the world is a safe place and most people are good and have good intentions.”
Experts say that if a parent notices that their child becomes fixated on the tragedy or if the parent has other concerns, they should contact their child’s pediatrician or a mental health professional.