In our world, we are constantly looped into the 24/7 news cycle. There is always something new coming up on our screens and more often than not, it’s not good news. Whether it’s challenging political discourse, ongoing war, natural disasters or community violence, these stories are everywhere. For us as adults this can leave us feeling scared, sad, frustrated, outraged, powerless, and its no different for children who are exposed to the same stories. It can be difficult to know how to talk to children about these topics, so below are a few tips on where to start along with articles containing additional information.
Self-care – Ensure you are taking time to process your own thoughts and feelings around different events, that way you’re better prepared to talk to your child about them. Put on your own oxygen mask first.
Make time – Create a safe time and space at home to talk about these topics. Allowing your child to ask questions gives you the opportunity to validate their feelings, listen to their perspective, and correct any misinformation they may have come across from friends or online. Your child will pick up on your feelings during these conversations, speaking calmly about these events can help put them at ease. It’s okay if you don’t have all the answers, remaining open to discussing and validating your child’s feelings can go a long way.
Set appropriate limits around social media use – Violent and tragic news stories will often times pop up with no warning. Social media platforms still struggle to filter what youth see, so it may be beneficial to have an open conversation with your child about the accounts they are following and what they may be seeing online. In addition, it may be helpful to schedule screen time breaks to spend time together as a family and to discourage passive scrolling.
Let your child know that they are safe – It can be easy to feel unsafe when you’re exposed to all of the scary realities that are happening in the world. Speaking with your child about the news with openly and with facts and then going through all the reasons why they are in a safe place can help. Reassure them that you will do your best to keep them safe.
Highlight positive stories – Even when things feel hopeless, it’s important to remember that there are good things that happen everyday. Finding some feel-good stories to watch and discuss, and talking about positive parts of everyone’s day can be a good reminder of that.
Also, if your child is reacting and you need extra support, Spectrum Health’s C.A.R.E.S. team is here for you, 24/7.
Casey FitzGerald
School-Based Clinician
Additional resources
https://www.childrenscolorado.org/just-ask-childrens/articles/coping-with-current-events/
