The
world around us changes dramatically day after day. People lose jobs; fathers or mothers
are sent
off to war . . . it seems there
is no
stability. It
forces parents to talk to their
children
about changing
times, hard times. It’s not an easy
task.
“Children don't ‘typically’
respond
with anxiety to events that don't directly affect them,” says Rochelle Harris, PhD,
clinical psychologist
at Children's Mercy
Hospitals and Clinics. “It's
the
vulnerable children who worry about things that are no direct threat.”
Kids have different tools to handle
hardships ... a
13-year-old copes with difficult times differently than a 3-year-old
would. And that’s OK,
says Dr.
Harris.
Sometimes children do not understand
information —
such as job layoffs — as it
affects them. But, if the parent explains the event in
easy-to-understand terms, the child will better understand the issue. A better
understanding,
in turn, will encourage them not
to
worry.
When
bad news happens, parents
should watch closely for changes in their child’s behavior.
Some children may become withdrawn, or clingy, others may throw
tantrums. All of these behaviors
can be
indicators of a deeper issue if the behaviors persist for more that a few
months.
How
should you
tell your child about bad news?
- Tell your child
that
you love them
- Assure them
that you’ll
do everything you can to protect them
- Control your
emotions
in your children’s presence.
Outbursts of fear or worry will scare your
child.
- Talk over the
event, discussing
the child’s concerns first.
Never
dismiss the child’s fears
- Participate in
bonding activities
- Shut off the
TV ...
media can be frightening and upsetting to
children.
- Emphasize
tolerance so
kids don’t stereotype other people, based on their appearances or
beliefs.
—CMHC—
