Talking with Kids about Gun Violence

~ Becky Ross Michael

 

arm me with books

In a perfect world, talking with children about gun violence wouldn’t be necessary. Our world is now further from perfect than I can ever remember, but I’m still hopeful for better days to come. If you’re looking for suggestions of books for kids that can help them cope, please keep reading.                       ~Becky

From Publishers Weekly :

Literary Safari—the New York City-based studio that produces print and digital children’s media with an emphasis on diversity and inclusion—has launched the #ArmMeWithBooks campaign, which seeks to address issues of gun violence in the U.S. 

The campaign, which takes its name from teachers’ responses on social media to the Trump administration’s suggestion of arming educators with guns, is centered on the #ArmMeWithBooks Booklist, a free, downloadable collection of recommended titles—picture books, middle grade, and YA—selected by more than 50 children’s authors. Participants responded to the following question, “What is a must-read for children growing up in these challenging times of mass school shootings and lockdown drills?” The list also includes an original poem by 2018 Arnold Adoff Poetry Award-winner Nikki Grimes.

Sandhya Nankani, founder and publisher of Literary Safari, told PW, “The impetus was to create a toolkit for parents and children to come together and have meaningful conversations around the things happening in the news and in schools.” The parent of a nine-year-old girl, Nankani said, “It has been really interesting to see my daughter’s responses to lockdown drills. We send our children to school to feel safe, to grow and learn. What is the impact of this fear over time? How is that changing generations of children? What do they need more of?” Though she receives emergency protocol information from her daughter’s school, she said, “I wasn’t finding something that spoke to me—something I could use to engage my child.” The book list was created in hopes of filling that gap, by offering stories that highlight social and emotional themes such as empathy and resilience.

December 18, 2018

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21 thoughts on “Talking with Kids about Gun Violence”

  2. Having retired after teaching elementary school for thirty-one years, I am glad that I don’t have to face this issue with my students. Kids come to school already indoctrinated at a young age (both sides of the issue) with attitudes about guns.

    I’ve always thought it was better to be educated about age appropriate issues, but man this is a tough one. We used to practice all these drills, and my common sense tells me this is especially important to do in this day and age. On the other hand, It broke my heart to see how frightened we were making some of the kids by holding drills.

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  7. Oh nooo… Really??? As a Brit I had no idea you were in a situation where you actually had lockdown drills to teach the children what to do in a event of a mass shooting – though I suppose it makes dreadful sense. What a heartbreak:(…

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