7 tips for talking to children and youngsters about the news

Take your time

The fact that kids and teenagers have questions about the world is a good thing. It shows that they are interested in what is happening around them. Encourage this by making sure you don’t avoid their questions: give them a clear answer tailored to their age. Not sure about the details of the matter yourself? Tell them you’ll get back to them later (and do so!) or look it up together.

Put them at ease

If a child or teenager is scared, sad or worried about the news, take their feelings seriously. Tell them you understand how they’re feeling, but also put them at ease. If you experience the same feelings, it’s totally fine to be honest about that. But do try to control your emotions during the conversation. 

Listen and ask questions

Sometimes a person doesn’t necessarily need answers, just someone who listens to them. Have the child tell you how they’re feeling. Ask questions like ‘What have you heard about this?’ and ‘How does that make you feel?’. Correct or complete the information they have where needed. This can be hugely helpful in getting a grip on the facts, understanding the bigger picture and placing their emotions.

Stick to the main facts

When children and teenagers have questions about the news, the main thing they need is clarity. Perhaps you have read a lot about the subject and want to give them as much information as possible. However, things can get confusing that way. Don’t get lost in the details, but answer every question honestly and to the point.
 

Think about the language you use

Avoid complicated words and use vocabulary that the child or teenager would also use. Also think about whether the vocabulary you use needlessly attacks certain groups. If you call someone ‘illegal’, it sounds like you think that person shouldn’t be in our country. ‘Muslim terrorists’ makes it sound like every muslim is a terrorist. If you find this a difficult balance to strike, consider looking up the topic on www.watwat.be. This website collates important information about various current topics, all tailored to the needs of children and teenagers.

Offer solid sources

If a child has lots of questions about a specific topic, there’s a good chance more questions will follow. It’s a good idea to offer them a few good sources that make the subject comprehensible to young people. Introduce children to a youth news bulletin like Karrewiet and point them to Instagram accounts like @nws.nws.nws or the videos by KLAAR. If you are a teacher, you can also consider talking about these topics in class.

End on a positive note

End the conversation on a positive note. If necessary, talk about something completely different to make sure the child or teenager doesn’t keep mulling over the subject. Double-check first whether you have answered all their questions, and let them know that you are always available to provide more information.