Helping children cope with frightening news events
Not sure how to explain frightening news to your child? This guide offers gentle strategies to keep them reassured and secure.
In the wake of the recent terror attack at Bondi Beach, many parents are understandably feeling unsettled and wondering how best to support their children as news coverage continues.
Even when adults try to limit exposure to the news, children often still pick up fragments of information. They may overhear conversations, notice headlines on screens, or sense the emotional impact the events are having on the people they trust most.
When something upsetting happens, particularly when it feels close to home, children may begin asking difficult questions. Questions that don’t always have easy answers, and that can leave parents unsure how much to explain or how to talk about what’s happened without creating unnecessary worry.
Child psychologists agree that what children need most in moments like these isn’t detail or repeated discussion of the event, but reassurance, emotional safety and the steady presence of calm, caring adults.
Why children experience news differently to adults
Clinical child psychologists explain that young children don’t have the ability to put news events into perspective.
They can’t easily understand time, distance or likelihood. When they see or hear about something scary, they may believe it could happen to them at any moment.
Repeated news coverage can make this worse. A story replayed again and again can feel, to a child, like the danger is constant and ongoing.
That’s why calm reassurance from parents is so important.
What to say to your kids when scary things happen
You don’t need to have the perfect words. What matters most is how you respond.
Keeping explanations simple and honest can help children make sense of what they’ve heard without becoming overwhelmed. Using age-appropriate language, avoiding graphic details, and sticking to the information your child actually needs, rather than everything you know, can prevent unnecessary fear.
Reassurance is key. Remind your child that they are safe, that you are there to protect them, and that the people they love are safe too. It’s also important to acknowledge their feelings. Let them know it’s okay to feel scared, confused or upset, and try not to dismiss their fears, even if they seem irrational to an adult.
“Always look for the helpers”
One powerful way to reduce fear is to gently shift the focus from what went wrong to who is helping. When talking to children, point out the police, paramedics and emergency workers, as well as doctors, nurses and hospital staff. You can also highlight everyday people helping others, comforting strangers or keeping children safe.
This helps children understand that while bad things can happen, there are always good people stepping in to help. It reinforces the idea that the world, by and large, is full of caring adults working together to protect others.
Toddler development: What little kids need most
Toddlers and preschoolers experience fear very differently to older children. They may not fully understand what has happened, but they are very sensitive to changes in mood, tone and routine. They’re also more likely to worry about being separated from their parents.
For toddlers, brief explanations work best, with a strong focus on safety and familiarity. Simple reassurances like “Mummy and Daddy are here” or “You’re safe” can go a long way. Where possible, it’s also helpful to avoid exposure to TV or radio news.
Maintaining normal routines, such as meals, naps, childcare and play, is especially reassuring at this age. Structure and predictability help toddlers feel secure and grounded when the world feels confusing.
Preschoolers: Sensitive to sights and sounds
Preschool-aged children are particularly affected by the images and sounds they see or hear in the media. They may confuse reality with imagination, replay scary ideas in their minds, or struggle to stop worrying once a thought takes hold.
Limiting exposure to news, answering questions simply, and checking in regularly can help. Try to focus not just on what they’re asking, but on what they might be thinking or feeling underneath their questions.
School-aged children: Talk it through together
Older children may benefit from watching or reading the news alongside a parent, rather than absorbing snippets on their own. This creates an opportunity to correct misunderstandings, explain that the event is not happening nearby, and reassure them that repeated coverage doesn’t mean repeated danger.
Afterwards, take time to debrief. Ask how they’re feeling and what they think happened. Often, children imagine scenarios far worse than reality, and gentle clarification can ease their fears.
The message kids need to hear most
Again and again, psychologists emphasise the same message for children: the world is mostly safe, people are usually good, there are systems and helpers in place, and life goes on. It’s okay to enjoy it.
When parents stay calm, reassuring and emotionally available, children are far more likely to feel safe, even when the news isn’t.
