Amirah looks at the morning headlines in despair. "Israeli troops mass on GazaThe smaller of two Palestinian territories, home to two million people. It is located on the Mediterranean coast, bordered by Israel and Egypt. border as HamasA militant Palestinian organisation, which has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007. It is listed as a terrorist organisation in the UK. attack death toll hits 1,000," says one newspaper.¹ "Massacre of the innocents," says another.² "This was a holocaustThe murder of six million Jewish people in Europe by Nazi Germany. Members of other minority groups were also killed. pure and simple," says a third.³ How in the world can she talk to her daughter about such terrible things without traumatising her?

This is a round-up of the latest advice:

1. Be open Do not pretend that an awful event has not happened - children will find out about it one way or another. However, they should be protected from the worst images and details that might haunt them.

2. Explain what happened It is easier to cope with a terrible event if you understand it properly. Ask what they already know, fill in any essential gaps, answer their questions and dismiss false rumours. Data journalism, in the form of charts and graphs is very helpful, because it is factual and sets things in context.

3. Choose a good time and place Difficult subjects are best discussed where people feel safe - for instance, in the kitchen at home. Bedtime, for obvious reasons, is not a good moment.

4. Ask how they feel Bear in mind that the things that worry them most may not be the same things that worry you - so you need to find out what those things are. It is important that they should feel free to talk to you about them instead of having to deal with them alone.

5. Take them seriously Telling them that their anxieties are silly is not going to help. You need to provide good reasons why they are misguided.  

6. Remember their age Children react differently to things according to their age and experience. The older they are, the more detailed your answers to their questions will need to be.   

7. Reassure them Remind them that they have lots of people protecting them from danger. Once they can move beyond their own immediate fears, they can start thinking about others.   

8. Be positive Many people feel helpless in the face of a major tragedy. Talk about what can be done for those who have suffered most, from sending messages of support to providing aid.

9. Contain anger With man-made tragedies it is natural to feel deep hostility towards those responsible. But it is important to remember that those who carry out terrorist or criminal acts are individuals who have made their own choices. They do not represent a particular race or religion, even if they claim to - so other members of that group should be left in peace.   

Yes: To cope with awful things, people need to understand them - and for very young children that is difficult, if not impossible. Graphic images can be so disturbing that they cause recurring nightmares.

No: We live in a news-saturated age, so it is completely unrealistic to pretend that a major tragedy has not happened. It is much better to explain the facts of the matter and dismiss fake news.

Or... Even for adults, it is hard to get a clear idea of a major tragedy while it is happening. Rather than picking up scraps of information on social media, you should wait for a trustworthy report.