Why and how to talk to your children about Ferguson

Credit: Loavesofbread on Wikipedia

Widespread media coverage of the events in Ferguson, Mo. makes it likely that your children already know something about it. You will not know what your children heard, read or saw about Ferguson unless you ask them. 

In addition, it is important to know their understanding of that information. Hearing about the shooting and subsequent protests can make some children anxious and afraid. Parents can help their children put the events in perspective by talking with them and reassuring them of their safety.

How you approach this issue depends on your own family dynamics and your children’s ages, but experts do have a few tips for parents:

1. Find out what your children already know about the events and their feelings about them.
2. Reassure your children that they are safe.
3. When speaking with your children, try to keep your own emotions in check.
4. Provide information that is appropriate to your children’s ages, maturity and levels of understanding.
5. Consider filtering younger children’s exposure to news stories and images that are inappropriate for them.
6. Explain the violence without condoning violence.
7. Give your children the facts to help them put the events in context.
8. Some children and teens are hesitant to discuss these issues with their parents. Make sure they know you are available whenever they need you. If your relationship is particularly strained, find out if there is a friend, relative or teacher available that your child can talk to.

More information about talking to children about these types of events is available from the National Association of School Psychologists.

To review the events surrounding the death of Michael Brown see this timeline from CNN.

Source:

Why It's Important to Talk to Children About the Events in Ferguson

I originally published this article on Examiner.com.

©Mary M Conneely T/A Advocacy in Action