Moms Talk: How to Talk to Kids About Tragedy

Welcome to "Moms Talk," our weekly Wednesday feature about a parenting topic of local interest.

Each week we'll post a question by a mom about being a mom.

Join the conversation with your comments, questions and answers to keep the discussion rolling. Feel free to use links to point your neighbors toward businesses, services, events or volunteer organizations in our Rockville Patch directory or calendar.

We'll also have members of our Moms Council weigh in with questions and comments.

Now, on to this week's discussion ...

Recent tragedies from  and are have made major news in recent weeks.

It's hard to wrap our own adult heads around the tremendous size and scope of the crisis unfolding in Japan or the senseless violence detailed in the Lululemon murder case in Bethesda.

So how do you help children process such tragedies when they hear about them? How about tragedies that hit closer to home like the death of a pet or a grandparent? Is it different with an older child? With a child who has never before lost a loved one?

What's the tack you've taken as a mom (or dad) to address these sensitive subjects? What resources have you found that are helpful?