Slate Daily Feed Care & Feeding | The World Is On Fire. How Do We Tell the Kids?
Dec 18, 2025
Mary Harris, host of Slate's daily news podcast What Next?, dives into the challenge of discussing current events with children while managing parental anxiety. She emphasizes the importance of asking kids what they know about the news and using experiences to deepen their understanding. Mary shares practical tips for healthy news consumption, like setting boundaries and engaging in civic learning. The conversation highlights the significance of teaching kids to be helpers amidst the chaos, ensuring they cultivate empathy and action rather than helplessness.
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College Acceptance Lurk Turned Reassurance
- Mary watched college acceptance posts and nervously wondered whether to tell her son about a peer's admission. Her son reacted with genuine happiness instead of jealousy, which reassured her about his character.
Tufting Party Panic And The Turnaround
- Lucy panicked when her teen was dropped at a tufting birthday and the parent left to get food. She got dressed to drive into a rough neighborhood before learning the parent had returned and the teen was safe and happy.
Moderate Your Anxiety, Let Kids Practice
- Moderate your own anxiety so you don't transmit helplessness to your children. Give kids chances to practice independence even when it feels like taking medicine for the parent.