So how do you even begin? First of all, put things into perspective. Michael Brody, M.D., chair of the television and media committee for the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, explains that while you can censor what a child sees in their primetime TV shows, the news is uncensored, and a lot of the headlines may be sensational just to get your attention. Before your kids freak out over the scary news topics, “calm their fears and help them make better sense of those screaming headlines.” Furthermore, you need to explain the basics of a situation as it relates to your kids. Margret Nickels, Ph.D., director of the Erikson Institute Center for Children and Families, explains that “kids perceive all events as happening nearby,” so you need to help them understand where something is taking place in relation to your family and your life. “Use a map or globe to give your child some perspective.”
