What to Do When the News Scares You

What to Do When the News Scares You — page 3
Introduction to Parents and Caregivers may feel a need to stay up to date on what is happening and to communicate with others about it At such times it may not be feasible to completely protect children from incoming information But news reports and overheard conversations can lead kids to make incorrect assumptions of the danger to them or their family Stories of individuals who are traumatized by an event may lead children to identify with those who are experiencing the event and make them think that they are next When adults around them seem concerned children’s fears are unlikely to be whisked away by simple reassurance They need help understanding what is happening and assistance in putting it into a larger context Keep these tips in mind as you help your child through scary times Children’s ability to cope with scary events varies with age and with the child Limit young children’s exposure to news stories as much as you can When you are unable to limit their exposure due to your own needs for information be available to interpret messages for them Consider how you access news and how that may impact children nearby Reading news on your own is the least likely to accidentally transfer information to children television news is more likely to include frightening visuals and sound effects Listen to the child’s concerns before offering explanations Ask what they have heard and what that information More than almost anything we want the children we care for to feel safe It’s second nature to try to shield them from the harsher realities of life but that doesn’t always work When tragic events happen it’s almost inevitable that children will learn about them And sometimes life changes because of these events and children need to know why Whether from television news reports the car radio or adult discussions children are often bombarded with news When the events being described include violence extreme weather events a disease outbreak or discussions of more dispersed threats such as climate change children may become frightened and overwhelmed As a parent or caregiver you may feel unprepared to help them understand and process the messages around them What to Do When the News Scares You provides a way to help children put scary events into perspective If children start to worry or become anxious about things they’ve heard there are ways to help them calm down and cope Read through the book before you share it with your child to familiarize yourself with the ideas presented This is not intended as a book for children who have themselves experienced trauma or loss if you are looking for a book on that topic I encourage you to explore Magination Press for other titles designed to help such youngsters Remember that children are impacted by the emotions of the important adults in their lives Stay mindful of how your own reactions to frightening news events may influence the small ones around you If the news is worrisome or threatening you 4