How to broach jumping castle tragedy with your kids

A prominent child psychologist says that as we grapple with emotion tied to Thursday’s jumping castle accident we must remember that our kids have also been absorbing the tragedy and may need to talk about it.

Michael Carr-Gregg said talking with children about such tragedies can help them understand and ultimately make them feel safer.

If children ask questions he says the first thing to ask them what they already know, followed by what they would like to know and what concerns they might have.

“It is really important that we be guided by their curiosity,” Dr Carr-Gregg explained.

Parents should explain clearly, in age appropriate language, what happened. And importantly include the positive aspects as well, such as the community coming together to fundraise and support each other.

In the weeks following the event, parents can monitor their child’s behaviour if they think they are being affected and encourage the expression of feelings, letting them know it’s OK to feel upset.

Writing or drawing can be great outlets for emotions, as can physical activities.

Incidents such as the one in Tasmania can hammer home the difficult reality that disaster can strike at anytime of the year, no matter the occasion, which can be hard even for adults to handle.

“Bad things can happen to good people, and sometimes we don’t want to know that,” Dr Carr-Gregg said.

He said donating to fundraising efforts is one way for children, and parents, to feel less helpless.

The names of the five children killed have been released by police, with consent from their families.

They are Addison Stewart, 11, and 12-year-olds Zane Mellor, Jye Sheehan, Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones and Peter Dodt.