Podcast Summary
The Importance of Preparing for Conversations About Difficult Topics with Children: Be mindful of news consumption around children, use age-appropriate language, and actively listen to their questions and concerns to help them navigate difficult topics.
As parents, we can't shield our children completely from the news and the scary events happening in the world. The discussion shared stories of how children, even at a young age, can pick up on news coverage and misinterpret information. Alison, who grew up during the Vietnam War, shared how she misunderstood the term "gorilla warfare" and was terrified of gorillas. This highlights the importance of being mindful of the news we consume in front of our children and being prepared to have conversations about difficult topics. As Anya Kamenetz, an NPR reporter and mother, noted, "We help you answer the really tough questions that kids can throw at us about things like death and race." It's essential to approach these conversations with age-appropriate language and to listen actively to our children's questions and concerns. In our constantly connected world, it's inevitable that our children will be exposed to news and difficult topics. By being prepared and open to these conversations, we can help them navigate and understand the world around them. Support for NPR and the following message comes from our sponsor, Whole Foods Market. Host a celebratory brunch for less with 365 by Whole Foods Market, featuring wallet-friendly finds like whole smoked Atlantic salmon, mini quiches, organic everything bagels, and more. Plus, visit the floral department and jazz up your table with a beautiful bouquet of sustainably sourced flowers.
Shopping at Whole Foods with Apple Card: Earn up to 3% daily cash at Whole Foods with Apple Card, monitor news exposure for children to help them feel in control.
When it comes to making your brunch perfect and delicious, consider shopping at your local Whole Foods Market using your Apple Card. With this card, you can earn up to 3% daily cash on every purchase, including items from Apple and Apple Pay transactions. Additionally, you can earn 1% on purchases made with your physical or virtual card number. Use the Apple Card calculator to determine your potential earnings. Apple Card is issued by Goldman Sachs Bank USA and is subject to credit approval. Another important takeaway from this discussion is the significance of helping children understand and process news events. As parents or caregivers, we have the power to control the amount and type of information our children are exposed to. According to Rosemarie Trullio, Sesame Workshop's senior vice president of education and research, it's crucial to monitor and limit children's exposure to the news. This includes avoiding leaving the news on in the background or allowing them to browse the news unsupervised. By taking a proactive approach to managing their news consumption, we can help children feel more in control and less overwhelmed by the world around them.
Protecting young children from excessive news consumption: Discuss disturbing news with kids, provide accurate info and context to help them understand, keep news off in the background when young kids are present
Young children should be protected from excessive news consumption, especially when it comes to disturbing or violent content. The story of Molly Lewis, who was exposed to the JonBenet Ramsey murder investigation at the age of 6, illustrates the potential harm such content can cause to young minds. It can lead to anxiety, fear, and misunderstandings about the world. According to Common Sense Media, 42% of parents of young children have the TV on constantly, even when no one is watching. To prevent this, it's recommended to keep news off in the background when young kids are around. When children do come across disturbing content, it's important to have a conversation with them. Tara Conley, a media researcher, suggests starting by asking them what they already know and giving them a quiet space to reflect. It's crucial to provide accurate facts and context to help them understand the situation better. This approach not only helps clarify any misconceptions but also gives children a sense of control and understanding in a potentially confusing world.
Discussing Tragic Events with Children: Provide age-appropriate info, act calmly, discuss missing details, avoid simplistic answers, and focus on helpers and good that emerges.
When discussing tragic events with children, it's crucial to provide them with appropriate information based on their individual needs and questions. Parents should act calmly and avoid overwhelming kids with excessive details. Different children may react differently, some seeking more information while others preferring to avoid the topic altogether. Media can't cover every story, so it's essential to discuss what's missing and encourage children to question the perspectives presented. When addressing the "why" questions, avoid simplistic answers and instead focus on highlighting the helpers and the good that often emerges from difficult situations. It's essential to remember that people who do harmful things are complex and not easily categorized as "bad" or "evil."
Focus on the good and find the helpers: During scary situations, parents can empower children by focusing on the positive and helping them identify helpers
During difficult and scary situations, it's important for parents to acknowledge the unknown and focus on the good. Evan and his wife chose to tell their kids that the shooter was someone who needed help, but they understood that this didn't fully explain the situation. Rosemarie advised that even in the darkest times, parents have the ability to highlight the good and encourage children to look for helpers. Mister Rogers famously said, "When something scary is happening, look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping." By focusing on the positive and empowering children to identify those who are helping, parents can make a difference in how their children perceive the world. This was evident in a study conducted after the Columbine shooting, where children's drawings shifted from preoccupation with death to drawings of heroes and helpers. Encouraging children to tell their own version of the story through art, play, or other creative outlets can also help them process what's going on.
Children's ability to create and make sense of the world through play and storytelling: Encourage children to express emotions and reactions to current events creatively, and help them feel empowered by taking action.
Children have the innate ability to create and make sense of their world through play and storytelling. This was exemplified in a 1995 story about two second-graders who reenacted the OJ Simpson trial using their imaginations. Tara, an educator, encourages her students to hold onto their emotions and reactions to current events and create something from them at the end of the semester. As adults, we also construct stories through conversation, social media, and other means. However, consuming news can make us feel powerless, especially for children. To help them cope, we can encourage creative responses and take action ourselves. Alison Aucoin, a mother, shares her contrasting experiences – as a child, she felt powerless hearing about the Vietnam War, but as a parent, she now openly discusses current events with her daughter.
Talking to Kids About Scary News Events: Limit news exposure, start conversations, provide facts, avoid easy answers, encourage storytelling, take action
When discussing scary news events with children, it's essential to approach the conversation in a thoughtful and age-appropriate way. Here are six key takeaways from the discussion: 1. Keep the news on a need-to-know basis: Limit exposure to distressing news and avoid leaving the TV or radio on continuously. 2. Start the conversation: Choose a quiet moment to talk and ask open-ended questions about what they've seen or heard, how they feel, and what they think. 3. Provide facts and context: Help children understand the situation by providing accurate information and explaining the background. 4. Avoid easy answers: When explaining why bad things happen, avoid simplistic answers and focus on the helpers and the good in the world. 5. Encourage storytelling: Help children understand that media is constructed and encourage them to tell their own versions of stories. 6. Take action: Find ways to take action together as a family, whether it's through peaceful protests, writing letters, or preparing for emergencies. By following these steps, parents and caregivers can help children feel more in control and less afraid of the news.
Simple hacks for everyday experiences and sharing tips with NPR: From reheating pizza to parenting challenges, NPR provides tips and a platform to share experiences. Explore economics, decision-making, gaming industry trends, and support a good cause with NPR sponsors.
There are simple hacks to enhance everyday experiences, like reheating pizza in the microwave without making the crust chewy by placing a glass of water in the microwave with it. NPR's JC Howard shared this tip, and if you have a good tip or a parenting challenge, you can share it with NPR by leaving a voice mail at 202-216-9823 or emailing lifekit@npr.org. Moreover, the world of economics and decision-making is fascinating, and NPR's sponsor, Charles Schwab, explores this through their original podcast, Choiceology. Additionally, video games have become a significant part of the global economy, with billions of people around the world identifying as gamers. To understand this growing industry, tune in to the Indicator from Planet Money podcast on NPR. Lastly, Bombas, a sponsor of NPR, offers comfortable and stylish socks, underwear, and t-shirts, and for every item you purchase, they donate another to someone facing homelessness. You can get 20% off your first purchase by visiting bombas.com/npr and using the code NPR.
