It's summer and school is out, which means it is peak season for traveling, flip flops and SPF is the first thing you see when you walk into the store! As a kid, I remember July being the month when I rode my bike to the neighborhood swim practice every morning and then rode it back home once the sun was beginning to go down. I remember being excited about getting to watch The Price is Right in the summers or seeing the new music videos drop on Saturday mornings! To say that my summertime childhood experiences were very different than kids in this generation, would be an understatement.
Today, kids have access to far more information—whether it’s the latest TikTok dance or breaking news headlines. Summertime only increases their exposure: boredom leads to online searches and challenges, overhearing adult conversations about current events that can be scary or disturbing, or worse, our kids witnessing these events unfold on live TV. That’s not to say all things digital are bad: kids can connect with friends and family in ways I couldn’t at their age, and it’s really sweet to watch. On the other hand, the same device that brings connection also exposes them to dangers I never could have imagined—often without giving adults the chance to prepare or protect them. Disastrous floods, school shootings, church shootings … heavy topics even for adults to process, let alone for our kids.
Mary Ann Green, founder of our practice and a current practitioner, shared that as she recently interacted with her 7‑year‑old son and mentioned that part of their summer 
vacation would include visiting family in Minneapolis, he said, “Minnesota? Oh no!” This reaction came shortly after the shootings of two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses. He had caught wind of the news and suddenly Minnesota didn’t feel safe. Mary Ann assured him that it was the action of a person—and a terrible one—but that Minnesota itself could still be a safe and enjoyable destination for their vacation. She acknowledged his fear, comforted him, and helped redirect his focus.
It is important to acknowledge the reality around us right now rather than distract from it. One of the biggest questions I get asked from parents is how to talk to their kids about what is going on without creating fear and anxiety. Here are some strategies to help you have meaningful, reassuring conversations with kids about difficult topics:
1. Age-appropriate Honesty - Kids are not afraid to ask the hard questions and then follow up with even more questions! Trust that their questions indicate what they can handle processing. It is imperative that you are honest with your kids and use an age-appropriate lens when delivering that information. I love using the image of a suitcase for how much information our kids can “handle” or “carry”. At a younger age, their suitcase is more about the cartoon on it, rather than what is on the inside. But as they get older, the size, color, and style of their suitcase changes, and they can be responsible for more.
2. Start Regulated and Stay Regulated - It is important 
for you to start these conversations in a state of regulation and calmness. You need to have separated your feelings about things, so that you can create space for your kids’ thoughts and feelings. It's okay to feel with them, but not to process with them. Where these conversations take place can also have an impact on our own regulation. I recommend having these conversations while; drawing, going on a walk, driving, cooking together, etc.
3. Limit Exposure To News and Social Media - Parents and caregivers have a responsibility to be aware of what content their kids are looking at and to set limits that they feel are appropriate. Also, consider getting news in a way that doesn’t expose your kids to things that are not age-appropriate for them.
4. Talk about what they can control - If they have seen 
or read something disturbing talk them through what they can do to feel safe. A good way for them to feel they can take action is to talk of ways to help. For example, perhaps they have some old toys that they could donate to kids who survived a house fire or flood.
5. Reassure Kids - Kids need to feel free to enjoy their environment and not assume that the bad that they heard about will happen to them. Reassure your kids and help shift their focus like Mary Ann did.
One of my favorite quotes is from Mr. Rogers. He said, "When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping." We can find hope and inspiration amidst negativity just by shifting our focus and teaching our kids to do the same.