Slate Daily Feed Care & Feeding | Guiding Kids Through Hard-to-Explain Headlines
Sep 18, 2025
Aymann Ismail, a reporter and former Care & Feeding co-host, shares his insights on discussing tough news with kids. He emphasizes the importance of honesty balanced with reassurance when addressing violent or divisive headlines. Aymann offers practical tips for parents, like filtering news sources and having open dialogues while protecting childhood innocence. Lucy shares her own challenges in processing recent troubling news, adding a personal touch to the conversation. This thoughtful discussion equips parents to navigate these tricky topics effectively.
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Teen Sees Violent Footage At Home
- Lucy's 15-year-old came home asking "Did you see the video?" after violent news and worried about what her younger sister had seen.
- The family scrambled to process information together while protecting their 12-year-old from traumatic images.
Childhood Memory From 9/11
- Aymann recalled his family's fear during 9/11 when they didn't know his father’s whereabouts and watched news together.
- His parents didn't sanitize the truth and offered solidarity gestures that built trust and comfort.
Trust Trumps Perfect Answers
- Trust matters more than perfect answers; kids need caregivers who feel like safe sources of comfort.
- Small gestures that show solidarity can provide disproportionate reassurance.
