To help her cope:

Watch and read together. Stay near while your child watches the news or reads the newspaper. Ask your child what he thinks about what he is watching and reading. Ask, too, what feelings he has about it. Offer to answer questions or talk about concerns.

Choose good outlets. Tell your child not to rely on information from tabloid magazines or websites put up by unfamiliar groups. Steer him toward media you trust. For example, many newspapers now have news pages just for younger readers. This could be a good source.

Remind your child about good news. Media report bad news because such news is more unusual. Remind your child that happy families, safe children, and strong communities are all around him. Because these are common, it is less likely he will see them in the media.

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