GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — When tragedies occur, it can be a lot for anyone to process. As an adult, you may already be grappling with a lot of emotions. Trying to figure out how to explain the tragedy to a child can be an extra challenge on top of that.

13 ON YOUR SIDE spoke with Brina Tiemeyer, the director of clinical services at Wedgewood Christian Services, an organization that offers residential care, counseling services and community programs focused on tackling mental health problems, about how to do that.

Here are the main tips she shared:

Be available

Know that this is a hard time not only for your children, but also for you as a caregiver. Processing feelings as an adult can be difficult. Allow space to reflect on the emotions that you and your child experience.

Know yourself

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