How to talk to children about the Tasmanian jumping castle tragedy

A photograph has captured an innocent moment after the jumping castle tragedy in Tasmania, which has triggered an important conversation.

An innocent photograph has emerged in the wake of a jumping castle tragedy in Tasmania.

The image captures two young schoolboys standing alongisde a floral shrine to the children killed in the freak accident.

One of the boys has a big smile, seemingly oblivious to the tragedy.

Other photographs from the scene show family and friends console each other outside Hillcrest Primary School.

Zavier (L) and Caisen Furley (R) outside Hillcrest Primary School. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Grant Viney

A prominent child psychologist says that as we grapple with the events in Tasmania, it’s important to remember that our kids have also been absorbing the tragedy and may need to talk about it.

Michael Carr-Greg said talking with children about such tragedies can help them understand and ultimately make them feel safer.

If children ask questions he says the first thing to ask them what they already know, followed by what they would like to know and what concerns they might have.

“It is really important that we be guided by their curiosity,” Dr Carr-Greg explained.

Letting children know it is OK to feel upset and encouraging them to express their feelings is important. Picture: NCA Newswire / Grant Viney

Parents should explain clearly, in age appropriate language, what happened. And importantly include the positive aspects as well, such as the community coming together to fundraise and support each other.

In the weeks following the event, parents can monitor their child’s behaviour if they think they are being affected and encourage the expression of feelings, letting them know it’s OK to feel upset.

Writing or drawing can be great outlets for emotions, as can physical activities.

The reality of bad things happening to good people can be difficult even for adults to accept. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Grant Viney

Incidents such as the one in Tasmania can hammer home the difficult reality that disaster can strike at anytime of the year, no matter the occasion, which can be hard even for adults to handle.

“Bad things can happen to good people, and sometimes we don’t want to know that,” Dr Carr-Greg said.

He said donating to fundraising efforts is one way for children, and parents, to feel less helpless.

The names of the five children killed have been released by police, with consent from their families.

They are Addison Stewart, 11, and 12-year-olds Zane Mellor, Jye Sheehan, Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones and Peter Dodt.

The five children killed at Tasmania’s Hillcrest Primary School.