North Raleigh Today

The tragic death of a child during the Raleigh, North Carolina, Christmas Parade has had a significant impact on people in the city, with many asking therapists how to discuss the topic with their children.

After Jennifer Birch’s office was flooded by such inquiries, the Raleigh therapist decided to host a community conversation on the matter.

"While it's hard having conversations about the death of a child, their hope is to make this conversation a little easier,” Birch said of the tone of the inquiries she received, according to a WTVD report.

Hailey Brooks, 11, died when a truck that was pulling a float lost control and struck her during the parade last month.

On Tuesday in the Nash Hall at the Church on Morgan Street, Birch met with about 20 people and provided them with guidelines on how they can approach having the conversation with their children, WTVD reported.  

Some of the advice she offered included leaving space for your children to ask difficult questions and remembering that not every child responds the same way to tragic events or discussions about them.

"Not every child is going to go through grief, but if you notice these signs and symptoms, then that is when it is helpful to seek professionals,” Birch said. “Our job as parents is to really be aware of whether our children are in a place of connection or in a place of protection."

Birch said she has been bringing her children to the parade since they were little and it “wasn't even on our radar” that such an accident could happen.

“I think everyone understandably has been shocked and really think through how to process this,” Birch said.

Some people, like Audrey Vallone, who is an aunt to children near Hailey’s age, tune out the news while they try to deal with what happened.

"A lot of them are 11 years old or younger,” she said of her nieces and nephews. “They’re so innocent and sweet and you don't want anything bad to happen to them ever. If that were to happen, a part of you dies with that."