Talking to Kids about Tough Topics: Leading Parenting Expert Shares Advice on How to Talk To Your Children about the Hurricane
Leading Parenting Expert Michael Popkin provides tips for how parents can answer tough questions, whether children should be sheltered from difficult news, and whether your child should be allowed to watch the news.
Nashville, TN (PRWEB) September 6, 2005
As each day unfolds, the news from New Orleans and the Gulf Coast seems to get more and more grim. As adults, we are all too familiar with unanswered questions about unspeakable tragedies in uncertain times: why? what if? But for many, the toughest questions come from children. Should you talk to your child about this tragedy or should you try to shelter them?
Leading parenting expert Dr. Michael Popkin says that it is imperative that parents do begin a dialogue with their children when a tragedy occurs. According to Dr. Popkin, “All too often, young children sometimes believe that mysterious events like tornadoes and hurricanes are punishments for having been bad. It is imperative that parents gently correct them and explain that nature – or God, if you prefer – has a way of operating that we do not always understand.”
Dr. Popkin adds that the most important thing is to talk to your children and try, no matter how difficult, to answer their questions. “Particularly in times of tragedy, it is important that you reassure your children as much as possible that we have the strength and ability to protect them from harm. Keeping as normal a routine as possible is also important. Focus on the positives – acts of heroism, patriotism, and leadership – that come out of these situations. These can provide lessons that are invaluable. Take time to talk with your kids about values and courage.”
Dr. Popkin also suggests that parents form a type of informal support group with other parents. Talk to other parents about their fears, concerns and how to establish reasonable rules.
Should your children be allowed to watch the news? According to Dr. Popkin, "Because young children are particularly sensitive to images, try to avoid letting kids under the age of six see media reports of violent tragedies like the twin tower collapse on 9/11 or Hurricane Katrina. If they do see something, be sure to talk with them about what happened in language that lets them know that they are safe and that people are being helped. With older children, it is positive for them to watch and discuss what happened. It gives you a chance to strengthen your own values in them." One guideline Dr. Popkin offers is to be aware of what your child is watching. Keep computers, televisions and other media in a public part of the house so you can see what your child is watching.
Finally, Dr. Popkin also suggests that parents talk to children about safety, not just in times of crisis, and be aware of how cautious their children naturally are: “Some kids have a natural cautiousness about them, while others blindly rush in where angels fear to tread. Watch for your child’s tendencies, knowing that with more adventurous children, you will have to do more talking and be eternally vigilant. However, even with cautious children, they do not have the experience to known where danger may be lurking or how to handle it once confronted. The challenge is to teach your children to be reasonably cautious without scaring them into an unhealthy fear of people or new places.”
Dr. Michael Popkin has appeared on over 200 television shows including The Oprah Winfrey Show, Montel Williams, and as a regular parenting expert on CNN. Dr. Popkin is best known as a pioneer in the field of video-based parent education. With the introduction of the Active Parenting Discussion Program in 1983, Dr. Popkin became an innovator in parent education. Since then he has authored and produced over thirty books and videos, such as Active Parenting Now and Active Parenting of Teens that have been used around the world to teach millions of parents how to raise happy and successful children. Dr. PopkinÂ’s most recent book, Doc PopÂ’s 52 Weeks of Active Parenting, is a 2005 release
Dr. Michael Popkin is available for interview. To arrange an interview with Dr. Popkin, please contact Maryglenn McCombs by phone – (615) 297-9875.
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