Answering Children’s Difficult Questions

Answering Children’s Difficult Questions

It’s natural for children to have many questions about COVID-19, the life changes it has brought, and when life will return to normal. Responding to these questions can be challenging, especially when we have few answers ourselves.

Questions seeking understanding are typically rooted in anxiety and big feelings. These questions must be met with empathy before the child is ready to process any usable information.

In this webinar, Conscious Discipline Certified Instructor Kim Jackson explains that there are two types of questions: questions seeking understanding and questions seeking information. Questions seeking understanding are typically rooted in anxiety and big feelings. These questions must be met with empathy before the child is ready to process any usable information. Kim outlines exactly how to answer these questions, then provides additional strategies for managing questions and anxiety during COVID-19.

Webinar Outline

• 00:01 Introduction of Certified Instructor Kim Jackson and topic
• 01:01 Understanding or information questions
• 01:38 Questions seeking understanding
• 02:56 First, offer understanding
• 04:10 Answer questions with visuals
• 05:22 Printable visual available
• 07:00 Give children an activity to help keep everyone safe
• 07:44 Questions seeking information
• 09:22 How to explain work time vs. play time
• 10:50 Limit TV time
• 12:10 Question Jar
• 14:13 Closing

Resource Mentions

• Printable: Visual Daily Schedule

Helpful Next Steps

• Article: 75 Ways for Kids to Connect and Contribute
• Article: How to Be a Safekeeper: Emotional Safety for Adults
• Webinar: The Safe Place at Home