When reports of violence and tragedy fall on young ears – helping kids process disturbing events in the media is critical to their mental health. Parents naturally want to shield their children from disturbing news images and stories until their kids are emotionally mature enough to handle them. However, that has become nearly impossible as terrorist attacks, natural disasters and mass shootings stream 24/7 on sharable video, audio and online news sources, which are mostly designed for adult audiences. Reports on incidents from child abductions to acts of war can traumatize children and make them view the world as a threatening and unsafe place. Knowing that the news is everywhere, parents need to be prepared to talk to children who have seen disturbing events that may not be age-appropriate. So, what can you do as a parent to help your kids to cope with distressing information?