In times of chaos and uncertainty — whether it’s political turmoil, natural disasters, aircraft disasters, social upheaval — children are listening, watching and absorbing it all. While we, as adults, may struggle to process these events ourselves, our kids and teens are often left with even bigger fears and unanswered questions.
So, how do we talk with kids and young people about what’s happening in the world without overwhelming them? How do we help them feel safe, while also being honest about the realities we face?
In this interview on WGBH, Eugene Beresin, MD MA, Executive Director of the Clay Center for Healthy Minds at Mass General and Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, joined GBH’s All Things Considered host Arun Rath to help us navigate these conversations and how to best support our children.
Resources for Families and Caregivers
In a ‘tsunami’ of bad news, here’s how to talk to kids about anxiety (WGBH)
Anxiety: Ways to Support Your Child at Home (Clay Center for Healthy Minds)
Supporting Your Child in the Face of Trauma (Clay Center for Healthy Minds)
How to talk to kids in the wake of violent tragedy, from Lewiston to Israel (WGBH)
