3 Tips for How to Talk to Kids about Disturbing News
PLUS: A List of Resources for Educators and Families
What a start to the New Year. And we hoped 2021 was going to be better …
Regardless of which side you may be on, our kids are seeing disturbing images and hearing conflicting messages everywhere they turn — on TV, via social media, around the dinner table, and out in public. For better or worse, the silver lining is that everyone is talking and debating. But for our kids, developmentally, it may be hard to understand the bigger context, the emotional reactions, and the short and long-term implications of the issues at hand.
So how can you help kids?
THREE TIPS
The first step is to reassure kids of all ages that they are safe.
Fear is unsettling, and most of us have felt a bit out of control over the past year. Reassure your kids that they are safe and that adults are working to ensure that we continue in our collective efforts for “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
Try to provide objective context for the situation at hand.
Of course we all probably have our personal biases or leanings, but be candid about your values and share how others may believe differently. We want our kids to always strive to be empathetic by considering any and every other person’s point of view. Give kids both sides of the debate and the shades of grey in between so that they can begin to formulate their own perspectives and opinions as individuals.
Listen.
Quite simply, listen to their ideas, their opinions, and their questions. You may find “teachable moments” to show the opposing viewpoints or provide background on our country’s history and government. But letting your kids know that you’ll entertain their thoughts at any point — and not just while the news is on — will give them time to digest, consider, and question these dynamic current events over time.
And then realize that you may not have all the answers, and that is a-okay to admit to yourself and to your kids.
You also ought to consider the developmental level of your child, which may or may not be in line with their chronological age. Younger kids tend to be more literal in their comprehension, while older kids tend to be more reactionary in their responses — again all developmentally appropriate, but such factors can influence how kids and teens are digesting and internalizing the recent events. You may want to consider limiting exposure to media (as adults, many of us are even grappling with drinking from the firehose of information) and guide them towards choosing trusted sources. And then always keep a vigilant eye out for a change in behavior to make sure that kids aren’t withdrawing and trying to shoulder their conflicting emotions on their own.
On a positive note, there is nowhere to go but up in this New Year. So let’s continue to support one another and our kids to move our country forward.
RESOURCES
Lean on trusted 3rd-party organizations to find reliable background and engaging activities to foster fruitful conversations with your kids that are developmentally appropriate. Here is a list of some recommended resources that are FREE for both families and educators:
- Sesame Street: Offering Comfort for children’s “big feelings” about confusing and scary news. Share this poignant video, Offering Comfort in Stressful Times, with youngsters.
- Common Sense Media: Explaining the News to Our Kids (includes resources in Spanish); How to Talk to Kids about Difficult Subjects; and Common Sense Education’s News & Media Literacy Resource Center.
- The News Literacy Project: resources for educators and the public
- The New York Times Learning Center: Teaching Resources to Help Students Make Sense of the Rampage at the Capitol
- Facing History and Ourselves: Responding to the Insurrection at the U.S. Capitol
- Teaching Tolerance: Leading Conversations after the Insurrection in Washington D.C.
- PBS Newshour Extra: for grades 6–12
- Newsela (news for kids): Sign up as a student, educator, or caregiver
- Schoolhouse Rock!: You can find many of the classic videos on YouTube such as Preamble, Three-Ring Government, The Great American Melting Pot, Fireworks, Electoral College, and the ever-popular I’m Just a Bill. Did you know that a new video was added to the collection after the 2000 election? Take a moment to watch I’m Gonna Send Your Vote to College (click HERE for the making of).
