Local school officials say there isn’t an easy way to talk to children about tragic events, and it can become more difficult when the tragedies involve young children.

This weekend, parents in the Tri-Cities and Kaneland will face such a task – explaining to their children the mass slaying of children and educators in a Connecticut kindergarten classroom.

The killings, according to police, were the actions of a lone gunman. Police said the killer may have targeted his mother, who was believed to have taught the kindergarten class assaulted Friday at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.