Family of ukrainian refugees cross Polish-Ukrainian border in Medyka, Poland on February 25, 2022. (Maciej Luczniewski/NurPhoto via Getty Images) NEW YORK - The pandemic, mass shootings, natural disasters, terror attacks.
There's been plenty of tragedy and anxiety for parents to sort through with their kids. Add Russia's escalating invasion of Ukraine to the list.With events rapidly unfolding on TV and across social media, child development experts urge parents to check in with children of all ages but not to worry if those conversations are brief."For children under the age of 7, it might just be acknowledging that something is happening between Ukraine and Russia and ask, ‘Have you heard anything?' Take the child's lead," said Janine Domingues, a clinical psychologist at the nonprofit Child Mind Institute in New York.RELATED: Several explosions heard in Kyiv as Russia presses on with invasion of UkraineFor all ages, honesty is paramount, she and others said."Overall, just provide reassurance, that this is what we know right now.
Let them know you don’t know all the answers but here are some places we can go," Domingues said.Around the globe, from the U.S.
to Western Europe, Japan to South Korea and Australia, countries immediately denounced the Kremlin as Thursday's fighting raised fear, sending stocks tumbling and oil prices surging.