Tips For Talking To Children About News & Politics
Whether it’s the recent election or just the constant influx of news, it is quite common for children to be stressed about things they’ve heard on the television or seen online. This week, we’ve gathered our top tips for talking to children about hard topics with the goal of encouraging curiosity and easing anxiety.
Ask questions. Be open-minded.
If you sense your child is anxious about something they saw in the news, ask questions. Find out what information they have (children often pick up on a lot more than we realize) and give them honest, age-appropriate answers. Offer information, resources, and reassurance. If a child shares an opinion that is hard to hear or different than your own, ask questions. Older children are developing their sense of self and may feel especially passionate about their individual opinions. Try to hold back judgement about your child’s thoughts and instead, ask questions. Ask what they love about a particular idea or person. Ask what values and topics are most important to them. Ask what their fears are. Encourage them to engage in political clubs at school, the debate team, or other forums for discussion. It may help them to have an outlet to explore ideas with others their own age. The goal of all these conversations should be to ask questions, help children gain knowledge, and encourage continued communication.
Learn together.
No matter how involved you are in your local community or in politics at a nationwide level, there is always more to learn. Learning together with your child can strengthen your bond and create a safe space, one where it is okay for you both to ask questions and explore new ideas. You might learn about current politics together or take the time to study history. You and an older child might both read the same history book or biography, for example. Younger children might benefit from a hands-on approach; you might visit a local history museum or nearby historic town together.
Teach digital literacy.
As children and adults spend more and more time online, it is increasingly important that we all understand how to filter the information we are bombarded with. CommonSense.org offers a number of Media Literacy resources for children of all ages.
Talk to staff.
In general, staff should never share political views with children or with other staff while at work. Talk to caretakers ahead of time about how you’d like conversations handled if little ones bring up hard topics.
Take action.
The news can sometimes feel overwhelmingly negative. Help ease children’s anxiety by taking action. Volunteer together as a family. Donate as a family to a charity that you decide upon together. Participate in fundraising walks. There are many ways you can turn the nervous energy into positive change together as a family.
Be a stable source of reassurance and support.
Make sure that your children know that whatever happens in the outside world, your family and home are a safe place. Remind them that they can always talk to you and you will always listen. Practice mindfulness techniques together. Focus on spending time outdoors and moving your bodies together. If your family is particularly politically-minded, make sure that the family dinner table conversation allows time for other topics too.
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