School shooting in Graz: This is how you explain it to your children!

School shooting in Graz: This is how you explain it to your children!

Today, June 10, 2025, a school shooting in Graz shocked parents and children. As a result, many parents ask themselves the difficult question of how they can explain such traumatic events to their children in an age-appropriate manner. It is important to consider important aspects of communication in order to convey security and trust to the little ones.

Psychologist Hedwig Wölfl recommends explaining violence in a child-friendly way and only using proven facts. Language should be clear and age-appropriate, and it is important to admit ignorance and process it together. Wölfl emphasizes that it is normal for children to react in such situations with feelings such as fear, anger and insecurity. These emotions should be taken seriously and not devalued. In addition, parents should keep everyday life stable in order to convey security.

Important communication strategies

In this context, the focus is on designing communication consciously, without dramatizing or trivializing. Children should be informed objectively, and consciously limiting media use can help reduce stress. Parents should also encourage conversations with friends, family or people they trust and give children the freedom to decide who they want to talk to. Every child processes such events differently, so it's crucial to give them time and space as they sort through their feelings.

The media presence of acts of violence means that many parents are grappling with the question of how they can explain the word “shooting spree” in a child-friendly way. Expert Sina Tultschinetski recommends that conversations with children should be actively sought, especially if they bring up the topic themselves or are confronted with it. Support is also provided by materials such as the fact sheet from the Emergency Pedagogical Institute, which provides information on how to deal with worrying reactions in children and also explains when professional help should be sought.

Violence prevention in focus

The prevention of violence plays a crucial role in child and youth work. Violence prevention measures are promoted in both school and non-school contexts. The focus is on promoting social skills, early intervention for problematic behavior and creating safe environments for children. Educational offerings about non-violent behavior and raising the awareness of educators and carers are also essential aspects of this work.

The Federal Association for Violence Prevention carries out training courses nationwide to provide certified training for teachers, social workers and educational staff in various subject areas. Many educational institutions and communities offer special prevention programs. These initiatives aim to ensure that children can express themselves without fear of abusive behavior and bullying. The tragic events in Graz once again illustrate the necessity of such measures.

The challenges posed by a school shooting highlight the importance of parents and communities working together to provide children with the support and security they need during such difficult times.