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ASK DR. SHARON
doctorotis@nextgenmagazine.org
Kids and The
Uncomfortable New World…
My child keeps asking me about the things she sees on social media or television. How do you
talk to kids about current events? -HK, Bradenton
This spring, I noticed an increase
of calls to our center from parents
regarding their young children and
summer, the phone calls from parents
were in regard to talking to their children
Children are hearing words like police
brutality, riots, domestic terrorism, political
bashing, or an increase in COVID-19
said multiple times, the child hears the
terms are you going to use in your family
discussions? If you do not know the answer
Do not shy away from talking to your child
Experts agree that talking is essential
and agree that approaching current
child has two or more stages of brain
they can misinterpret stories they hear
Children, depending on their age, process
and temporal lobes of the brain grow,
child then attaches more words to those
inanimate objects or animals think and
Piaget called the next stage of brain
the child can now make logical arguments
logic does not always make sense with a
are taking in the news, but reasoning and
Remain calm when discussing news
are picking up on cues from you on
years old and can get more abstract as
Reassure your child that they are safe
topics that are coming up for them on
Validate what your children are feeling
and tell them it is normal to feel the way
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