Written by the CultivaTeen Roots Team 

3 minute read 

According to the Washington Post, as of September 2024, there have been 417 school shootings since Columbine (Washington Post). With this staggering number in mind, it comes as no surprise that in today’s world, our teens face many fears surrounding gun violence in schools. As caregivers, we need to recognize that today’s teens not only are navigating the traditional pressures of academic performance and social development but also regularly experiencing safety concerns while they’re at school. Creating space for honest and open dialogue can help your teen feel heard, and better equipped to cope with their fears around school safety. By providing them with support and tools for change, we can empower them to manage their fears and develop a stronger sense of agency, allowing them to advocate for a safer future where school violence and shootings are not an everyday worry. 

Honest and Open Communication

Discussing school violence with your teen likely feels daunting, however; providing opportunities for them to share their feelings can give them permission to voice their fears about safety at school. Listening, understanding, and validating their fears shows you honor and respect their feelings. 

Ask your teen open-ended questions…

• What is your school’s safety plan and what kinds of conversations does your school have around this topic? 
• What are ways schools can become safer?
•  What conversations have you had with peers about this topic? 

Our course, Making AdoleSense, discusses more strategies for how to have open lines of communication with your teen. The research shows that when we can talk about difficult topics with our teens, it can reduce fears and alleviate anxiety, helping your teen process their emotions safely. 

Practice Coping Skills

Help your teen build healthy coping tools to support by brainstorming and practicing strategies together. This will allow your teen to have some control over the anxiety they may feel at school. You can find a wide range of self-regulation practices for you and your teen in our course Making AdoleSense. Although it might take some time for your teen to find the tools that work best for them, supporting their development of healthy coping strategies will empower them in navigating future challenges.

Encourage Action

Encourage your teen to get involved in efforts to combat school violence. Connecting with peers and community members who share similar concerns and are working towards creating change can provide your teen a sense of hope and agency instead of fear and helplessness. Parents can also reach out to their teen’s school for information about how school safety is handled. Supporting your teen in taking action demonstrates the value in collective efforts to build safe environments for all. 

Discuss Gun Safety

Regardless of your family’s views on guns, discussing policies and viewpoints about gun access and safety is a great opportunity for your teen to think critically about an important topic. These kinds of conversations can help your teen explore their stance on firearms, allowing for more meaningful contributions to discussion around school safety. 

Conclusion

As parents, we want our children to feel safe and supported, so it is understandable that broaching the topic of school violence with them can feel daunting or even scary. However, you do not need to have all the right answers to help your teen feel more in control of their anxiety around school safety. Creating space for open conversation, helping your teen develop effective coping strategies, and connecting them to opportunities that support open dialogue and activism are ways to help your child navigate their concerns.  

Resources:

1. American Psychological Association​

2. Kaiser Permanente Transforming Health

3. Psychology Today

4. Transforming Health

5. Washington Post Article