Community Corner
How Should You Talk to Kids About Tragedy?
Kids have questions about the earthquake in Japan, and one mom wants to know the right way to talk about hard stuff.
Each week in Moms Talk, our council of smart parents takes your questions, give advice and share solutions. Meet the .
This week, Rhonda Shrum, the parent of a preschooler, wants to know how to talk to kids about tragedy.
"How do you talk to young children about the devastation taking place in Japan? My 4-year-old has asked a few questions based on some scenes he's seen on TV, and I've done a very elementary explanation of earthquakes, but even THAT scared him! He's at an age where he believes in monsters under the bed and is terrified that Mommy will somehow get hurt and taken away. I have no desire to scare him with real-life nightmares; but at the same time, I don't want to shelter him. What is appropriate to discuss with young children, and how do you ease their minds and relieve their stress when they're afraid?"
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What do you think? How do you talk about difficult things with your children?
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