Yesterday, my daughter told me that all the kids in her class were talking about the war in Ukraine.
Unfortunately, many of them were getting their information from TikTok, much of it graphic misinformation.
It really made me think about how important it is to talk to our children about what's going on in the world.
So, I recorded this short video to help you get started:
1️⃣ limit their exposure to the news
2️⃣ be curious – ask them if they've heard anything about the war and where they heard it. This is so you can build on what they already know and so you can correct any inaccurate information they may have picked up
3️⃣ validate all feelings e.g. “it's ok to feel worried and scared, I feel like that too, I'm here, you're safe”
4️⃣ share simple, factual information in an age appropriate way. use a map or globe to build their understanding
5️⃣ talk about what they can do if they feel scared, e.g. come talk to you, move their body, breathe and play
6️⃣ help them focus on all the good in the world as people rally to help and also focus on what you can do together to help
I hope this helps 💙💛