After a terrible tragedy like the school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary, countless parents, teachers, and other caring adults have to answer frightening questions from their children. Our job is to provide reassuring, truthful information in an age-appropriate fashion. Here how to protect children’s emotional safety right now as we are figuring out how to take action to prevent tragedies like this in the future.

As news keeps unfolding about the Sandy Hook school tragedy, children might hear new scary details and their anxiety might grow. Check in with your kids today. As sad as we all are, here are four actions parents can take today to protect their kids from trauma and empower them in the face of violence.