KIDS on the Fringe Workshop

KIDS on the Fringe:
Guns, Kids and School-A Deadly Mix

 Our lives have become increasingly more challenging as our external world creates more demands.  The current barrage of media images often portray behavior and attitudes that are contrary to what we are trying to teach our children such as aggression, lying, greed and manipulation.  When pressured children and adults often respond in ways that can lead to mental health and behavioral issues in the home and school environment, which in turn can cause situations of “crisis” including gun violence. This workshop will examine the intersection of gun violence, suicide and adolescent mental health and the inevitable fallout of these powerfully traumatizing events.

Topics include:

• Definitions of violence and current research on school bullying and violence
• Physiological, emotional, mental, and social correlates to violent behavior
• Child and adult responses to violence and traumatic events
• Social and political responses to violence
• Statistical data on the impact of violent programming, video games and modern technology on child development
• Proactive strategies to safeguard our school communities