After a shooter at a Florida high school, many have expressed frustration at the political .
As a parent, I understand the desire for practical responses to school shootings. I also absolutely believe the government should do more to prevent such incidents. But the and that I am weary of waiting for politicians to act.
I study the kind of that often predates school shootings. That suggests what communities and families can start doing today to better protect children. Here are 10 actions we can all take while the federal government drags its heels.
What schools can do
Because educators observe students’ emotional and behavioral development daily, they are best positioned to detect troubled behaviors and intervene. In Los Angeles, for example, to identify potentially violent students before problems occur.
1. Teach social and emotional skills
Children learn social skills from everyday interactions with each other. Playtime how to control their emotions, recognize others’ feelings and to negotiate. Neighborhood “kick the can” games, for example, require cooperation to have fun – all without adult supervision.
Today, frequent social media use and a decrease in free play time .
But social and emotional skills can – and should – be as a way to prevent student violence. connect better with others and may be more able to recognize troubled peers who need help.
2. Hire more counselors and school resource officers
Due to budget cuts, many schools have . These mental health professionals – especially with the .
In my opinion, school resource officers – trained police officers who work with children – are also helpful for students. While untrained officers may pose a , well-trained school resource officers can connect with kids who have few other relationships, acting as a support system. They are also on hand to respond quickly if crime or violence erupts.
Putting trained school resource officers and counselors in every school will cost money, but I believe it will save lives.
3. Use technology to identify troubled students
Technology may challenge kids’ social development, but it can also be harnessed for good. Anonymous reporting systems – perhaps text-message based – can make it easier for parents and students to alert law enforcement and school counselors to kids who seem disconnected or disturbed. That enables early intervention.
In Steamboat Springs, Colorado, appeared to prevent extreme violence in May 2017. Police took a young man who’d threatened to harm his peers into protective custody before he could act on his words.
What communities can do
Communities also help raise children. With many eyes and ears, they before young people grow into violence.
4. Doctors should conduct standard mental health screenings
Extreme violence is almost always preceded by certain behavioral problems. These typically include a , a marked , indications of and a .
Doctors could detect these problems early on with a at health checkups. If concerns arise, referrals to counseling or other mental health professionals might follow.
5. Enlist social media companies in the effort to detect threats
Most young people today use social media to express their feelings and aspirations. In the case of school shooters, . A single violent post is hardly a guarantee of homicidal acts, of course. But evidence strongly indicates that .
I would like to see companies like Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat create algorithms that identify repeated online threats and automatically alert local law enforcement.
What parents can do
Parents and guardians are often the first to detect their child’s emotional struggles. Here are some tips for monitoring and promoting healthy emotional development at home.
6. Think critically about your child’s social media use
From virtual war games to cruel trolls, the internet is full of violence. The relationship between violent content and aggression hasn’t been consistent in research: see , while find some correlation between violent video games and violent behavior.
This mixed evidence suggests that online content , so parents must assess how well their child handles it. If your but is gentle, socially successful and happy, the onscreen violence may not be strongly impacting her.
But if your child is drawn to violent games and tends to be aggressive or troubled, discuss the situation with your pediatrician or school counselor.
7. Consider what your child is missing out on
Is your child sleeping properly? Do your kids socialize with other young people? These two behaviors are , and excessive screen time can .
Make sure digital devices , and schedule play dates if your kids don’t make plans on their own.
8. Assess your child’s relationships
Like adults, children need confidants to feel invested in and connected with their community. The trusted person can be parent, a family member or a friend – just make sure someone’s playing that role.
For children who struggle to make friends and build relationships, there are that can help them learn how.
9. Fret productively about screen time
Research shows that . Thatap alarming in part because parents can’t realistically keep kids entirely off devices.
So rather than just fret over screen time, focus instead on how . Evidence shows that children who experience different pursuits over the course of their day – from sports and music to an after-school job – are happier and healthier for it.
10. Talk with your child
This is both the easiest and hardest way to make sure your kids are doing OK. Children, especially teenagers, don’t always want to talk about how life is going. Ask anyway.
My shows that simply asking children about their friends, their technology use and their day is an important way to show you care. Even if they don’t respond, your interest demonstrates that you’re there for them.
Try this one now. Ask your children what they’re thinking about the shooting in Florida and how they like their friends and school. Then listen.
Elizabeth Englander is professor of psychology and director of the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center (MARC) at Bridgewater State University. This article was originally published on .
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