A local psychiatrist says honesty is the best policy when it comes to explaining major tragedies -- such as the mass shooting at a Colorado movie theater -- to your kids.
Dr. Jeffrey Bennett, an assistant professor of psychiatry at the SIU School of Medicine says for kids who can make decisions to go to a movie by themselves, he says parents should talk to them about what is a safe place.
He says people of all age groups get over tragedies differently, especially children who may react differently depending on their age.
He says people shouldn't force themselves to get over their feelings too quickly. He says it's normal to feel shock and grief after major events, and people shouldn't try to "get over it" until everything slows down and they know all the facts.
(Posted 7-23-2012 at 6:15am, Alex Degman)