How parents should talk to their children about the horror of the Bondi shootings | Vanessa Cobham for The Conversation

"As the community begins to grapple with the horror and tragedy of the Bondi shootings on Sunday, children will probably have questions. Parents may also be wondering how to talk to their young kids and teenagers about what happened. I am a clinical psychologist and researcher with a focus on children, anxiety and post-traumatic stress. Here are some things to keep in mind when talking to children about the tragedy in Bondi (though many of these apply to any bad thing happening in the world)."

"When your child asks you a question, it's better to be honest, even if the answer is hard or you're worried about their reaction. There is a lot of misinformation swirling around. Children need to feel they can trust what their parents say. It's also possible kids will have ideas about what happened that are worse than the reality. So, it's important to find out what they think they already know and gently correct any misinformation."

"Give children your full attention In a situation like this, we are all distressed. Unless you are listening carefully, you might miss the bit your child is actually worried about. The information you know or might be interested in knowing is going to be different to the information your child wants to know. Follow their lead. You will need to use your expert knowledge of your own child to know how to best pitch the information you provide."

Children will likely have questions after a violent event and parents should prepare to answer honestly, even when answers are difficult. Misinformation can spread, so caregivers should ask what children already believe and gently correct inaccurate ideas. Parents should give children full attention, listen carefully to identify the specific worries, and follow the child's lead about what they want to know. Explanations should be pitched to the child's developmental level using simple, reassuring language. For preschoolers, brief statements about bad people being removed and helpers treating the injured can be used. For primary-age children, slightly more detail about events and outcomes is appropriate, with reassurance about safety.

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