Life Kit What to say to kids when the news is scary
May 28, 2022
Rosemary Trulio, the Senior Vice President of Education and Research at Sesame Workshop, discusses how to navigate scary news with children. She shares insights on the impact of distressing events and emphasizes the importance of open communication. Trulio provides strategies for parents to help kids process their emotions, highlighting the balance between shielding them and fostering dialogue. The conversation also explores teaching media literacy and encouraging positivity through storytelling, helping kids focus on caring individuals in their communities.
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Gorilla Warfare
- Allison Alcuin, growing up during the Vietnam War, misheard "guerrilla warfare" as "gorilla warfare".
- This led her to develop a childhood fear of gorillas attacking, highlighting how kids can misinterpret news.
Formative Scary News Events
- Anya Kamenetz recalls the Challenger explosion as her formative scary news event.
- Corey Turner remembers being scared by constant tornado coverage on local news.
Childhood Fear of Murder
- Molly Lewis, six years old during the OJ Simpson trial, was scared by the constant coverage.
- She realized children could be murdered, even in their homes by trusted individuals.