(FOX17'S SCOTT COUCH) This tragedy has parents in Middle Tennessee holding their children a little tighter and wondering how to explain it all. With news of the Connecticut school shooting dominating both broadcast and cable news, the coverage is impossible to escape. Rest assured if your children haven't already heard, they will.

"Kids are gonna hear about this and I think they're gonna be able to tell it's a big deal," says Vanderbilt Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist Dr. Kevin Sanders.

Dr. Sanders says parents need to be prepared to talk to their kids openly and honestly about a tragedy that occurred at a place children are supposed to feel safe. Dr. Sanders suggests just answering their questions.

"It's also good not to give too much information," says Dr. Sanders. "Don't overload a child. Don't tell them more than they're asking. Answer their questions and explain things in a simple manner is probably the best way to handle it."

In the face of a tragedy like this, parents want to be reassuring, but Dr. Sanders warns against making broad promises about safety you can't keep.

"Be prepared to answer the same questions over and over," says Dr. Sanders. "A lot of times kids will do that to kind of seek reassurance to make sure everything is still okay. That happens a lot in these kinds of cases."

He says there may be more questions next week when children return to school, as your young ones try to process the fact that children very much like them won't be back in class on Monday. Dr. Sanders says a story like this can be a trigger for children who've been the victims of violence. He says it's important for divorced couples to present a united front so children get the same message from both parents.
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