News

Actions

Explaining tragedy to kids

Posted at 5:37 PM, Nov 18, 2015
and last updated 2015-11-18 18:37:38-05

NEENAH, Wis.- For Neenah High School French student Beatrice Padgham, the attacks on France are hard to take in.

"I was mad to be honest, I couldn't believe it had happened," said Padgham.

That anger quickly turned into kindness however.

"They were contacting me as early as Friday night saying Madam, what can we do," said Neenah High School French teacher, Erin Meilhon.
 
Several students decided to sell pins for $1 each.  All the money is going to France to help.
 
"I guess the only thing we can compare it to in our minds is 9-11 where France responded really positively for us so we're responding the same for them," said Padgham.
 
That's exactly how therapists say you should talk about tragedy with kids.
 
"Use it as a teaching moment, there are always things that we can all do to help no matter how little you are," said CHAP Academy therapist, Kristin Lowe.
 
High school and middle school students can understand more so you can explain details, but with elementary school children, it's different.
 
"They're concrete thinkers so you want to keep it simple," said Lowe.
 
Talking about the attacks is what Padgham says helped her.
 
"Really the world has to stick together in these things because if they don't, nothing good can come of that," said Padgham.
 
The Neenah French class hopes to raise $200 by selling pins and in just 3 days they're almost at their goal.  They plan to send that money to the Red Cross in France.