Big conversations

"How to talk to your child about school anxiety" video, Hey, parents! Managing the rapidly changing school situation has been so stressful for our children and teenagers, but also for ourselves.   Here are some tips to help guide you if anxiety or feeling overwhelmed about school has been a topic in your home:   Tip number one   Check in with your teen about how school is. For some they may want to…

Climate change is happening and nearly every child in the world will be affected. Talking about climate change with our own children can feel hard for many parents. It’s natural to want to protect kids from harm and worry. But if your child is a certain age, chances are they are already hearing about climate change, whether at school, online or…, 1. Do your homework, No one has all the answers about climate change and it’s okay if you don’t either. There are many reliable resources available online including talks, videos and articles that can help you brush up on the science. NASA has some great child-friendly resources on the topic. Speak with other parents to find out how they approach the topic with their…, 2. Listen, To start the conversation about climate change with your child, find out what they already know and how they feel about the topic. You might be surprised by how much your child already knows and can express. Use it as a chance to listen to their fears and hopes for the planet. Give them your full attention and don’t dismiss or try to minimize any…, 3. Use simple science, You know your child best, so make sure the information is appropriate for them. A good starting point can be to find ways to relate climate change to their daily lives and explore the basic facts together. For example: “Humans are burning fossil fuels like coal and oil to run cars, fly planes and light homes. These all release greenhouse gases…, 4. Go outside!, Try to expose your child to nature as much as possible. Encouraging them to play outside helps nurture their enjoyment of and respect for nature. When you’re outside together pause and point out interesting sights, whether it’s a tree, a cloud, a cobweb or a bird. The simple act of slowing down and taking the time to appreciate nature can help…, 5. Focus on solutions, For every problem you discuss, try to show a solution. Explore with your child examples of people who are working on ways to address climate change. Discuss positive and inspiring stories you see on the news or in your own community. Talk about what steps you are taking as a family, such as reducing waste in your home, saving water, recycling, or…, 6. Empower action, Young people around the world are taking climate action into their own hands and to the doorstep of governments . Others are building new ways to use energy more efficiently, sharing solutions on social media and walking in weekly climate marches. Let your child know that many young people are standing up for our planet and they can too. If they…

When you find yourself facing the unthinkable, having the right words to say to your child can feel like an impossibility. We spoke to UNICEF’s child psychology and mental health expert Dr. Marcia Brophy to provide guidance for parents in an emergency situation., How can I protect and guide my child when I am feeling scared myself?, Feeling scared is a natural reaction to an abnormal situation – for both you and your child. Check in on your children in an age-appropriate way and give them space to openly and freely share their thoughts and feelings. Because children pick up on emotional cues, whether it’s through body language or facial expressions, trying to keep as calm as…, What are some ways to calm myself and my children?, Deep belly breathing is very helpful and is something you can do together with your older children. If you have a younger child, you could make it into a game: Every hour on the hour, see how you can calm your mind and body down by slowing down your breath. If you feel like you are losing your temper, try giving yourself a 10-second pause and, if…, We had to leave our home. How can I explain this to my child?, Try to share information in advance, in an age-appropriate way, as much as possible. This gives your children time to process their feelings, and children process things slower than adults do. If you have to evacuate, try laying things out in steps: “we’re going to put our things in our backpacks and we’re going to have to move to a safer space.”…, My family has been separated. What should I say to my child?, Let your child know that their loved one is doing everything they can to get back to them. You can be honest that you don’t have an answer right now, but that you are using every opportunity to speak to an organization or an agency to find out more, and you will share information with them as soon as you know. If possible, having a quick phone…, One of our loved ones has been killed. How should I tell my child?, If someone close to you and your family has died as a result of the crisis you are in, the most important thing is not to hide or delay the truth. It is natural to want to protect your child, but it is best to be honest. Telling your child what happened will also increase their trust in you and help them to better cope with the loss of their loved…, We have been hearing a lot of explosions. What can I do for my children while this is going on?, If possible, try to talk to your children in advance, in an age-appropriate manner, about the possibility of this happening and what you will do when it does. You could tell your child: “There are going to be some really loud noises that we’re going to hear, and when that happens, we’re going to move into a safe space, and we’re going to stay…, How do I explain the horrible violence being committed around us to my children?, For younger children, it is important to explain that unfortunately in the world, there are people who do bad things sometimes, and that’s what’s happening right now. Assure them that it has nothing to do with your family or you as individuals. Reassure them that there are many people around the world who are working hard to try to stop these bad…

When conflict or war makes the headlines, it can cause feelings such as fear, sadness, anger and anxiety wherever you live. Children always look to their parents for a sense of safety and security – even more so in times of crisis. Here are some tips on how to approach the conversation with your child and to provide them with support and comfort.…, 1. Find out what they know and how they feel, Choose a time and place when you can bring it up naturally and your child is more likely to feel comfortable talking freely, such as during a family meal. Try to avoid talking about the topic just before bedtime. A good starting point is to ask your child what they know and how they are feeling. Some children might know little about what is…, 2. Keep it calm and age-appropriate, Children have a right to know what’s going on in the world, but adults also have a responsibility to keep them safe from distress. You know your child best. Use age-appropriate language, watch their reactions, and be sensitive to their level of anxiety. It is normal if you feel sad or worried about what is happening as well. But keep in mind that…, 3. Spread compassion, not stigma, Conflict can often bring with it prejudice and discrimination, whether against a people or country. When talking to your children, avoid labels like “bad people” or “evil” and instead use it as an opportunity to encourage compassion, such as for the families forced to flee their homes. Even if a conflict is happening in a distant country, it can…, 4. Focus on the helpers, It’s important for children to know that people are helping each other with acts of courage and kindness. Find positive stories, such as the first responders assisting people, or young people calling for peace. The sense of doing something, no matter how small, can often bring great comfort. See if your child would like to participate in taking…, 5. Close conversations with care, As you end your conversation, it’s important to make sure that you are not leaving your child in a state of distress. Try to assess their level of anxiety by watching their body language, considering whether they’re using their usual tone of voice and watching their breathing. Remind them that you care and that you’re there to listen and support…, 6. Continue to check in, As news of the conflict continues, you should continue to check in with your child to see how they’re doing. How are they feeling? Do they have any new questions or things they would like to talk about with you? If your child seems worried or anxious about what’s happening, keep an eye out for any changes in how they behave or feel, such as…, 7. Limit the flood of news, Be mindful of how exposed your children are to the news while it's full of alarming headlines and upsetting images. Consider switching off the news around younger children. With older children, you could use it as an opportunity to discuss how much time they spend consuming news and what news sources they trust. Also consider how you talk about…, 8. Take care of yourself, You’ll be able to help your kids better if you’re coping, too. Children will pick up on your own response to the news, so it helps them to know that you are calm and in control. If you’re feeling anxious or upset, take time for yourself and reach out to other family, friends and trusted people. Be mindful of how you’re consuming news: Try…

The Convention on the Rights of the Child  is an important agreement by countries who have promised to protect children’s rights. It explains who children are, all their rights and the responsibilities of governments to protect those rights. Rights are a big concept to explain to a little one. To help them better understand their rights, watch…

Do you want to talk to your children about mental health but don’t know where to begin? Let's hear from pediatrician and adolescent medicine specialist Dr. Hina Talib who shares tips on how to start the conversation., Transcript of 'How to talk to your kids about mental health', Parents, if you're watching, here are some tips on how to have those difficult conversations with children.   First, start from a positive place by saying to your child that you love them, that you adore them. You could have the conversation when you've just shared a joke and laughed together, enjoyed a favourite snack or watched a show together.…

The death of a loved one is painful and complicated for adults, but for children facing a loss for the first time it can be as confusing as it is upsetting. Here are some ways you can support them and things you can expect as they grieve.  , What are loss and grief?, Loss and grief can both have a significant effect on people psychologically. Loss is usually associated with something that could come back while grief can be something more permanent, like divorce or the death of a friend or family member. What makes working through grief following a death so difficult is the process of realization and acceptance…, How do children grieve?, A child’s reaction to the death of a loved one will vary depending on their age and previous life experiences. All children are different, and the below examples of age-related responses can be applied to children of different ages and intellectual ability. Small children under the age of 5 years often do not understand that death is permanent and…, How do I tell my child that their loved one has died?, The most important thing is not to hide the truth and not to delay the truth. It is natural to want to protect your child, but it is best to be honest. Telling your child what happened will also increase their trust in you and help them to better cope with the loss of their loved one. Try to find a safe and quiet place to speak to your children…, Is it okay for me to grieve in front of my child?, It’s completely fine – and natural – for you to show you are sad in front of your child. Try to prepare yourself so that you don’t alarm your child with your reaction, but do be honest. If you are sad and crying, tell them how you are feeling and reassure them that there is nothing wrong with showing your feelings and expressing those feelings to…, How can I help my child cope with their grief?, Mourning is an important way for children and adults to come to terms with losing a loved one. It is important for children to be involved in any way that you find appropriate and with which they feel comfortable. Mourning enables your child to accept the death of their loved one, celebrate their life and to say goodbye. Find a way to hold a…, How can I protect my child’s mental health following the death of a loved one?, Here are some important ways you can help your child feel better and protect their mental health: Continue to provide the child with loving and consistent care from you, a parent, relative or carer, whom they trust and know well. Infants and young children continue to feel secure and loved through loving physical contact, singing, cuddling and…

It can be hard to talk to your children about racism. Some parents worry about exposing their children to issues like racism and discrimination at an early age. Others shy away from talking about something they themselves might not fully understand or don’t feel comfortable discussing. Yet others, especially those who have experienced racism,…, How to talk to your child about racism, The way children understand the world evolves as they grow, but it’s never too late to talk to them about equality and racism. Here are some age-appropriate ways to start that conversation and explain that racism is always wrong: Under 5 years At this age, children may begin to notice and point out differences in people they see around them. As a…, Celebrate diversity, Try to find ways to introduce your child to diverse cultures and people from different races and ethnicities. Such positive interactions with other racial and social groups early on help decrease prejudice and encourage more cross-group friendships.  You can also bring the outside world into your home. Explore food from other cultures, read their…, You are the example your child follows, Parents are children’s introduction to the world. What they see you do is as important as what they hear you say.  Like language, prejudice is learned over time . In helping your child recognize and confront racial bias, you should first consider your own — does your friend circle or people you work with represent a diverse and inclusive group?…