We live in an ever-changing world and we’re all learning more about ourselves and our societies every day. Around the world, we’re having tough conversations about public health, institutional racism, protests, politics, and more. It’s a stressful time for everyone — every time you watch the news, go online, or check your phone, it seems like there’s something new and crazy going on. And our kids are not immune from the stress we’re all feeling right now! Toddlers and teens alike know that things are different right now, and they want to know what’s going on. As parents, we want to protect our children from the tough stuff we deal with every day, but they need to be in the loop. Obviously, we want to broach these topics delicately and make sure we’re giving our kids age-appropriate information. Below are some of our best tips for having these difficult conversations.
1. Don’t Treat Them Like Babies
Kids are smarter than we often give them credit for, and they can handle tough topics. While you should always keep the conversation age-appropriate when discussing difficult matters, you don’t have to avoid the discussions entirely. Children are constantly learning and picking up on what’s going on in the world, whether you’re explaining it to them directly or not — by talking with them about what’s happening, you can help shape their understanding and frame the conversation in a positive way.
2. Provide Them With Educational Materials
Every parent knows that sometimes kids just don’t want to listen to what you have to say. If their teacher says it, they’ll listen. If their grandma says it, they take it to heart. But if mom says it? No way. Since it’s so important to have these discussions, make sure your home is filled with kid-friendly educational materials (like books, music, toys, games, activities, etc.) that focus on diversity. Making sure you provide kids with various forms of educational materials can help parents initiate these conversations — whether that’s after reading a book, during playtime, or while listening to music.
3. Use Media To Spark Conversations
Did you know that familiar TV characters can help kids empathize and make them feel more comfortable with challenging topics? It’s true! This is one of the reasons why CNN teamed up with Sesame Street recently to host Coming Together: Standing Up To Racism: A CNN/Sesame Street Town Hall. The special, which can be found on the HBO Max streaming platform, discusses difficult topics, such as racism in a way kids can understand. Since the special features characters like Big Bird and Elmo, who kids are already familiar with, little ones can connect with the topics even more.
Want to learn more about how television shows and movies can help parents answer challenging questions? Listen to the MomTips episode below!
