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townandcountrymag.com
NPR Ed
Overwhelmed with election news? Kids can tell.
If you've been riding an emotional, politics-fueled rollercoaster,
believe us: Your kids have noticed. They can see when you’re on edge.
And because they're naturally self-centered, they'll assume your stress
is about them. Be honest and tell them, "Dad/Mom has been a little
nervous about the election." It's helpful for kids' social and
emotional development to hear you naming your emotions.
At the same time, it's not great for you or them to be mainlining the
news 24/7, so try your hardest to turn off the TV or the radio, put
away your phone and connect — especially over meals and other key
moments during the day.
"We can control the amount of information. We can control the amount of
exposure," Rosemarie Truglio, senior vice president of curriculum and
content at Sesame Workshop, told us when we talked to her about
parenting during intense news events.
Give kids a safe space to reflect and share. And give yourself a chance
to dispel any scary rumors or misinformation they may have come across.
Ask: "What have you heard and how are you feeling?"
And this is key: Your job, first and foremost, is to listen.
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