How To Reassure Your Child After This Week’s Threat Emails To Schools
Children worried after this week’s threat emails to schools? The Department of Education and Youth and NEPS have advice for parents on reassuring them.
Parents are being given advice on how to talk to their children and reassure them following the threatening emails sent to schools on Wednesday 11 November 2026.
The guidance, titled Supporting your Child at this time: Advice for Parents/Guardians, carries the logos of the Department of Education and Youth, the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) and Wellbeing in Education. It has been forwarded to schools by the CPSMA. A letter to parents from one primary school, seen by Cork Safety Alerts, says the document was shared to help parents “answer queries from their children in order to reassure them as a result of the hoax email received by schools yesterday.” The school also said that similar advice has been provided for teachers.
The document says the safety of children and young people “remains the highest priority”, and that schools “worked closely with An Garda Síochána and relevant authorities and appropriate procedures were followed.”
It acknowledges that what happened this week can cause different reactions and emotions, and that all children will express their feelings in different ways.
Stay calm, and mind yourself too
Parents are asked first to model a sense of calm. Children look to the adults in their lives to see how to deal with worrying events, and if those adults are overly worried, children’s anxiety may rise. The guidance also asks parents to be careful about what they say when talking about the incident with other adults in front of their child.
It reminds parents that they are an important support to their child, and encourages them to pay attention to their own wellbeing and self-care.
Keep routines and stick to the facts
Keeping everyday routines going, and making time for activities children enjoy, can help to reduce some worries or anxiety.
Children need factual, age-appropriate information. According to the guidance, very young children need brief, simple information and reassurance that they are safe and that the people they care about are safe. Older children may need help to separate reality from rumour, as having the facts can help them feel a sense of control.
Parents are also advised to limit what children see and hear on the news. They should encourage children to rely on information from their school, their parents and trusted authorities rather than speculation or social media.
Listen, and know what to expect
The document says “listening is a response”, and asks parents not to dismiss their child’s concerns but to let them express their fears and worries.
It says it is not uncommon for children to have difficulty concentrating, or to be fearful, anxious or irritable, after an event like this. They may be quieter than usual, angry or upset, complain of aches and pains, have trouble sleeping or have nightmares, be more clingy than usual, and some may not want to eat. The guidance says: “These are normal, short-term reactions and will settle.”
What to say
If a child is confused about what happened, parents are advised to stick to the facts and keep things simple. First, explain what happened this week in simple language. The guidance then suggests lines such as:
“The Gardai are working hard to find out what exactly happened.
If you are feeling worried or scared, that’s ok, you can tell me or your teacher in school.
We can talk about what happened anytime or if you want to ask me any questions you can.”
