Don't Shy Away: How to Navigate Difficult Conversations with Your Children
Help Your Kids Understand the World Around Them
We live in an information overload society, and it can be difficult for parents to keep up with all the current events and news flooding hourly.
From political turmoil (like an assassination attempt) and natural disasters to social issues, there seems to be no shortage of things to be aware of and prepared for.
While it's important for us as adults to stay informed, it's equally important to have open and honest conversations with our children about what's happening in the world.
As parents, talking to our kids about tough topics can be daunting, especially when we’re trying to navigate the uncertainty ourselves. But it's our responsibility to help them make sense of the world and guide them in understanding these complex issues.
Below, we’ll explore a few ways for you to talk to your kids about what's happening worldwide so there’s not a negative impact within the home.
This is a resource every father should be reading from:
Don't shy away from difficult topics.
First and foremost, creating a safe and non-judgmental environment for your children to express their thoughts and feelings is important; they must know that they can ask anything and bring up whatever topic comes to mind without you freaking out or telling them, “Don’t worry about it.”
How many times would your curiosities get ignored before you stopped bringing them up?
That’s what shutting kids down does; they’re people too, and so they are curious and want to know about the world as much as the next person; they deserve the explanation as much as any adult out there.
My children are 14 and 11; we have spoken about everything from why dad was dealing with the police during COVID to why we didn’t get the vaccine, as well as Donald Trump’s assassination near miss and Corey Comperatore’s death. They aren’t afraid or caught up in it; they’re aware and curious, ultimately getting bored and moving on after their question is answered.
BOTTOM LINE: Make it clear to your kids that they can come to you with any questions or concerns.
This will help them feel comfortable and allow for more open communication.
It's natural to want to shield our children from the harsh realities of the world, but avoiding discussions about them can do more harm than good. Instead, approach these conversations with sensitivity and age-appropriate language. Try using books, movies, or events that you know they could compare these big ideas to, for them to break it into bite-size chunks to figure out.
For older children, you can use current events as a starting point to discuss values, ethics, and critical thinking.
When your kids, older or younger, continue to ask, “why?”, give them the blunt truth and let them digest and seek further explanation when ready. Don’t think that shielding your kids from the world protects them from it; that does the opposite.
Thinking about problems isn’t always the answer.
Be mindful of how much information you share with your children.
It's important to balance keeping them informed and overwhelming them with too much information. Tailor your discussions based on your child's age, maturity level, and individual needs. Don’t think that because the news has made a big deal out of a story, you need to address it.
To simplify this point, always field the questions your children are asking, but don’t bring all of your worries, concerns, or questions to them. Be sure you are not making the mainstream focus your entire focus because that’s a machine of perpetual outrage; it will have you stressed about something new every 48 hours.
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