Before talking to your child, pray for wisdom,

Ask the Holy Spirit to calm your own fears so you can offer peace.
Remember: kids don’t need every answer; they need your presence and God’s truth.

James 1:5

Keep it Simple & Reassuring

Use short, clear sentences: “Something very sad happened this week. People got hurt, and many families are sad.”

Avoid graphic details.

What They Need Most:

Safety → Reassure them: “You are safe. God gave us family, church, and community to help protect us.”

Presence → Let them sit close, hold them, pray with them.

Hope → Remind them: “Even when the world feels scary, God is always with us. He loves us, and He listens when we pray.”

Practical Steps:

Read a verse together: Psalm 56:3 — “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”

Pray short prayers: “Jesus, we are sad. Please help the families who are hurting. Thank You for keeping us safe.”

Encourage drawing a picture or writing a prayer card for the people affected.

Invite Honest Conversation

Start with a question: “How are you feeling about what happened?”

Listen more than you speak. Don’t rush to fix their emotions.

What They Need Most:

Honesty → Acknowledge the pain: “Yes, this is tragic. It’s okay to feel sad, angry, or confused.”

Faith → Point them to Scripture:

John 16:33 “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Purpose → Ask: “How do you think God might want us to respond in times like this?” (prayer, compassion, kindness at school).

Practical Steps:

Read John 11:35 – remind them Jesus Himself wept. Grief is not weakness.

Share 1 Thessalonians 4:13 – we grieve with hope, not despair.

Encourage them to express faith creatively; journaling, worship music, serving others.

Pray together, but also invite them to lead the prayer sometimes.

Don’t Avoid the Conversation: Kids will hear things at school or online. Better they hear truth in a safe, faith-filled space.

Model Faith: Let them see you reading Scripture, praying, and clinging to hope.

Remind Them of Eternity: For Christians, tragedy is never the end. Jesus is the resurrection and the life (John 11:25).

End Every Talk With Hope: Always circle back to God’s love, His presence, and the promise of Jesus.

Sample Parent Scripts

For Younger Kids:

“Sweetheart, something sad happened this week. Some people were hurt, and that makes us feel sad. But remember, God is always with us, even when things feel scary. We can pray and ask Him to help the families. Want to pray with me?”

For Teens:

“I know you’ve seen or heard about the tragedy this week. How are you feeling about it? … I feel heavy too. But here’s what helps me: remembering Jesus said we’d face trouble, but He has overcome the world. That gives me hope. Can we talk about how we can pray or respond together?”

Pray daily with your kids about the tragedy, even if it’s short.

Check in again later. Kids process grief in waves — keep the door open.

Encourage hope and love. Remind them we don’t just mourn, we respond by showing God’s love.