Parents can do much to reassure their children that such an incident isn't likely to repeat itself anytime soon, experts say. And it's important to offer that reassurance now.
"This is clearly a very disturbed individual (the 24-year-old shooting suspect) and parents have to reassure kids that this is a very random event and they shouldn't bring their lives to a halt because of this," Alan Hilfer, director of psychology at Maimonides Medical Center in New York City told HealthDay News.
"Parents have to reassure kids that they're going to do everything they can to make sure they're safe."
A good place to start is by communicating, says Simon Rego, director of psychology training at Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City.
"Make sure you're having a talk," he advised. "Make sure a support system is there so if people are looking anxious or stressed out, encourage them to talk about what they're experiencing or feeling."