For most parents and teachers, the question of how to talk to children about gun violence is daunting. Will our conversations ease children’s anxiety or increase it? The causes of gun violence are complex. Is there any way to help kids understand some of the root issues?
This is a topic I’ve wanted to write about for some time, but I hadn’t found many resources for children. That’s why I was so pleased to learn that the authors of Something Happened In Our Town: A Child’s Story about Racial Injustice had written a new picture book about this topic.
Because authors Ann Hazzard, Marianne Celano, and Marietta Collins are psychologists focused on children’s behavioral health, they bring expertise on how to be developmentally appropriate while discussing tough topics. Read on to learn more about the book and discover tips and resources for discussing community gun violence with children.
Disclosure: I was given a free review copy of Something Happened In Our Park by the authors in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions are my own. For your convenience, this post includes affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. You can read my full disclosure policy here.
Something Happened In Our Park: Standing Together After Gun Violence
Authors: Ann Hazzard, Marianne Celano, and Marietta Collins
Illustrated by Keith Henry Brown
Recommended for children ages 5 – 10
Purchase from Bookshop.org (supports independent bookstores)
When Miles finds out his older cousin Keisha was shot in the leg during a concert in their neighborhood park, he becomes frightened and anxious. He even pleads with his parents to move to another neighborhood.
His parents point out that since the factory located in their community closed, there has been more violence. But they also remind Miles of all the things that make their neighborhood special, and the ways that people take care of each other.
Miles still can’t shake the feeling that he’s not safe, especially when he hears gunshots on a different day. But Keisha helps him discover a couple of ways to “stay calm and keep living our lives.”
Some time later, Keisha lets the family know that she’s getting involved in a neighborhood group that is pushing for solutions to gun violence. Their advocacy leads to the Mayor funding a “Peace in the Streets” project, with youth programs and a new factory opening that will provide much-needed jobs.
Keisha seems to have returned to her cheerful self, but Miles is still struggling to get through his fear of visiting the park again. His mother reminds him of the positive changes that are happening. Plus, she tells him, they can’t just avoid the park forever. “If we don’t claim it, who will?” she asks.
Miles agrees to go to a festival at the park, and sees signs of the Peace in the Streets program being put into place. After taking part in a neighborhood art camp, he finds his own way to join Keisha in working for peace in their community.
Related Post: Talking about racial injustice with my 6 year old
One of the things I appreciate most about Something Happened In Our Park is that it offers many different possibilities for exploration. Younger children will likely focus on Miles’ feelings and his journey to feeling safe in the park again. Older children can explore some of the “why” and “what next” questions about gun violence that the story addresses. The storyline allows kids to consider these questions at both the individual and systemic levels.
Like the authors’ previous book Something Happened In Our Town, this book includes an extensive and invaluable resource section for adults. It includes sample discussion starters with children and suggestions for helping children manage their anxiety. There are also answers to common questions kids might ask after reading the book, such as “is our neighborhood safe?”
As a white parent who’s committed to antiracism, I also want to highlight a point the authors make in the resource section. When the media discusses gun violence, it primarily focuses on mass shootings. Mass shootings are certainly important to examine, and solutions are desperately needed.
At the same time, mass shootings primarily affect rural and suburban white communities. Community gun violence disproportionately affects Black and Latine children, and is closely tied to systemic injustice including racism and poverty. It’s crucial that white families learn about community gun violence and advocate for solutions that are rooted in justice.
Related Post: 7 tips for talking to kids about tough topics
Tips for discussing gun violence from the authors of Something Happened In Our Park:
1) Age-appropriate discussions about gun violence can ease children’s fears. However, watching graphic footage of news stories can be frightening to children. Limit children’s exposure to these.
2) Follow your child’s lead in discussion about violence. After reading the book, say something like “Miles was worried after the park shooting. Have you ever felt like that?” When violence is in the news in your community, ask what your child has heard before diving into what happened.
3) When kids are stressed about what might happen to them, remind them of ways to become calmer. They might take deep breaths or draw pictures like Miles does, hum or sing, snuggle with a pet, picture a safe place, or return to a fond memory.
Related Post: 21 powerful books for kids and teens about race and racism
4) Remind kids that there are many different people who are working to keep us safe in every neighborhood.
5) Invite children to notice positive things about Miles’ neighborhood, not just the things that need to change.
6) Ask children what things they notice people doing to make the neighborhood safer and to reclaim their park.
Additional Resources for Addressing Gun Violence
In addition to the resource guide at the end of the book, you can find an additional guide from the authors here. The online guide includes children’s booklists about poverty and community resilience, as well as books on anxiety. There are also resources for adults on how to help children manage stress. You’ll also find resources for understanding community gun violence, as well as information on community solutions like those shown in the book.
Enough Is Enough: How Students Can Join the Fight for Gun Safety. This book gives teens lots of resources for pushing for solutions to many types of gun violence. There are also inspiring profiles of youth activists from many different backgrounds. Purchase the book from Bookshop.org (supports independent bookstores.)
Supporting Children to Feel Safe and Secure after Disasters. Article from the National Association for Education of Young Children.
Sesame Street in Communities resource guide to Traumatic Experiences. Includes videos, printables, and more.
Wear Orange community events take place each June to honor victims and survivors of gun violence and to call attention to this crisis.
Related Post: Wisdom for student activists: 4 guides to social change for teens and tweens