Coping with Current Events National and local events may put stress on your child, but you can help them to cope better. Keeping your child safe during the COVID-19 crisis Talking to your child about COVID-19 Make yourself available to answer any questions your teen may have about the virus and navigating the pandemic. Be sure to limit any news and media related to the COVID-19 pandemic, especially if you can tell it is distressing for your child. Remind teens about everyday actions that can prevent the spread of germs and keep surfaces and other items clean. Encourage them to keep important sanitizing items (e.g., hand sanitizer, gloves, masks, wipes, etc.) on hand. Motivate your child to social distance, meaning staying 6 feet away from others and staying home when they can. Encourage your child to wear a mask at all times. Remind them they are not only protecting themselves, but also loved ones and others around them. Keep extra masks around and have them pack extras in case they lose theirs. For more information, please visit Talking with children/teens about COVID Racial Justice and the Black Lives Matter movement Talking to your child about Racial Justice It can be difficult to bring up the conversation of discrimination and racial inequality with your teens. All conversations will look different for each family. However, research has shown that the earlier these conversations happen, the better. With the Black Lives Matter movement and protests being at the forefront of news headlines, it is important to find out what your teen knows about current events and how they may be impacting them and their mental health. Below we have included some links to help you navigate these trying times with your family: How to talk with your teen about racial protests Talking with children about racism, police brutality and protests Talking to children about racial bias
