How to talk to your kids about…

Big events in the news can be confusing and upsetting for kids — even when they don’t fully understand what’s happening. Children often pick up on tone, fear, and emotion long before they understand facts. The goal isn’t to explain everything — it’s to help kids feel safe, heard, and supported.

First: Start with Your Child, Not the Headlines

Before explaining anything, pause and ask:

“What have you heard or seen?”
“How did that make you feel?”
“Do you have any questions?”

This helps you avoid giving too much information — and lets your child guide the conversation.

Click here to download Age-Specific Guidance

Offer Hope and Agency
Especially for older kids, it helps to talk about:

Helpers in the community
Ways people support families and neighbors
Small actions that reflect care and kindness

Hope doesn’t mean pretending things aren’t hard — it means reminding kids that love and goodness still exist.

Watch for Signs They’re Struggling
Kids don’t always say, “I’m anxious.”

Look for:

Trouble sleeping
Clinginess or regression
Irritability or withdrawal
More questions than usual

If you notice changes, gently check in and keep the conversation open.

The Bottom Line
You don’t need the perfect words.

What kids need most is:

A calm presence
Honest, age-appropriate answers
Reassurance that they are not alone

Talking about hard things doesn’t create fear — silence does.
Your steady, loving voice helps kids build resilience for a complicated world.