The tragedy that unfolded in Uvalde, Texas — a horrific, senseless act — reminds us that our children should feel safe and at their happiest when they are learning and engaging in school environments. No child, parent, educator, or caregiver should face such trauma. We remain stunned, horrified, and saddened by the loss of life.

On a personal level, it’s common to have feelings of uncertainty while navigating through fear and trauma. For our children, it can be even more challenging to work through the trauma of the tragedy and the emotions of their peers. Children shoulder so much — they shouldn’t face these feelings alone or be the tragic reminders of inaction.

Supporting student social and emotional well-being is more important now than ever. Resources, from Harmony and others, provide strategies educators can use to deepen connections, heal together, and have conversations with students so that they can begin to feel safe and supported again. Below are some helpful resources to support these conversations in your family or school today:

 

Harmony Resources

• Quick Connection Cards — provides educators and families with quick conversations to help students to connect, a great strategy in helping students heal
• Harmony at Home — provides families with resources and strategies to support student social and emotional learning at home

 

Inspire Modules

• Understanding the Impact of Trauma on Students — describes the biological, emotional, and academic effects of trauma as well as common symptoms
• Supporting Trauma-Exposed Students —provides different strategies to provide academic and behavioral support to children who have experienced trauma

 

There are additional sources we highly recommend, too:

• Helping Students After a School Shooting — American School Counselor Association
• Talking to Children about Violence — National Association of School Psychologists
• How to Talk to Kids about School Shootings — Common Sense Media
• An Age-by-Age Guide to Talking to Children About Mass Shootings — The New York Times

 

Harmony will continue to offer support and resources to help ensure our children feel connected, loved, and seen. If we all work together and meet the moment, we can change the future and make it one our children deserve. We’ll be with you every step of the way, with SEL-informed strategies to support students from all walks of life.

We stand in solidarity with Uvalde, Texas, and every educator, student, and family as they navigate this tragedy. Now is the time to take sensible, informed action to help stop this needless cycle of violence.

Together, we can make an impact.