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Today we woke up to the tragic news of a shooting in Aurora, Colorado. Some of the victims were children. It's hard enough to understand why things happen when we are adults, but it can be even more difficult for children.

Here is what the late Fred Rogers had to say about talking with kids about scary times.

"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping." To this day, especially in times of "disaster," I remember my mother's words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers - so many caring people in this world."

Here are some tips to help you talk with your children about tragedy.

• Children need to be reassured that they are safe and you, as their parents will do your best to keep them safe. They need to be comforted and know they are loved.
• Ask them questions and let them ask questions. You can get a better understanding of whet they've heard and how they are feeling. 'What did you hear? What do you think?' In relation to the recent shooting in Aurora, they could think that was the theater they go to or that their friends may have been there. As the parent, you need to give them correct information and that can help them feel better.
• Use it as a teaching moment. This is an opportunity for you to teach them about helping others in tragedy. You can show them the good work the police and firefighters are doing in the situation.
• Turn off the TV. Remember that children don't need to see the replays on television over and over. They will do better if they aren't constantly hearing about what happened.

It's easy to allow ourselves to get drawn into watching televised news of a crisis for hours and hours; however, exposing ourselves to so many tragedies can make us feel hopeless, insecure, and even depressed. We help our children and ourselves if we're able to limit our own television viewing. Our children need us to spend time with them - away from the frightening images on the screen.
- Fred Rogers Company