This year has been a year of remarkable news stories. I never know what to say when it comes to talking to the kids about the headlines. I am a news junkie, I always have it on for noise in the background…but that has had to change this year.
We actually had this conversation this morning with our daughter after she heard about breaking news about the Capitol yesterday. Despite doing our best to want to shelter them from everything, sometimes it is just impossible. I explained it the best I could in terms where she would understand, without divulging too much to scare her.
We used some of these resources last year when she was told about September 11th at school, when we hadn’t even had the conversation at home yet.
That is another reason I like to talk to our kids about current events because I want them to hear it from me, not a 5-year-old friend on the playground.
You may choose to not talk about anything with your children which is perfectly ok. I wanted guidance on the conversation because I knew it was coming.
I do have hope in humanity and our country.
Here are a few resources:
Common Sense Media– breaks it town by ages
Kids Health– has a helpful layout on any difficult conversation
NPR-has great advice to limit exposure, ask what have you heard and how do you feel about what you have heard/seen? and give facts, keep opinions to the side.
National Geographic-Reassure that they are safe, ask open-ended questions, and let them respond as much as possible, helps kids cope with their anxiety.