According to the Child Advocate – Surajit Khanna, the racial injustice and distress we are facing in this current time around the world have put many parents on the hedge on how to discuss protests and racism with their kids. With the increase in, civil disobedience, and police brutality many parents are worried about the safety of their kids and how to protect them. For many kids, the current situation might be difficult to understand. However, positive discussion about the protests and racism are important at this particular time.

“With the ongoing news, the importance of discussing this topic with kids cannot be overemphasized, “says Dr. Surajit Khanna, an advocate for children’s safety issues. Although, many adults feel uncomfortable discussing it with their children and assume they do not about it. However, many children get information weather from conversations with nannies, friends, or social media. The fear and anxiety of people surrounding them also speak volumes to them. Therefore, not discussing it threatens the safety and mental health of the children. Without proper understanding and guidance from parents, children might not be able to navigate their feelings in the right direction.

Here, Dr. Surajit Khanna, takes us through ways on how to discuss protests and racism with our kids by their age group. Read on.

Be in the Right Frame of Mind

How can you help your child navigate protests and racism? As discussing protests and racism is important, so is your mental and emotional health as a parent says Surajit Khanna. The first step is to take care of yourself and once you feel confident enough, you can now decide on how to have a conversation about the current uproar with your children. You need to be very careful and pay more attention to their emotion as you don’t want to share information that will make them feel unsafe or more traumatized. Be open with them, listen to their thought, and answer all their question. Assure them of their safety and their importance to their community.

Infant and Toddlers

Children of this age might not be able to understand what is happening on television and around, however, they can pick up anxiety and fear in people’s voices. To avoid this, parents should talk about the incident and watch the news when the baby is not physically there. “Always control your thought and feelings around them says”. Dr. Surajit Khanna. Infant and toddlers can learn about protests and racism from the racial stereotype in society without the input of their parents. Therefore, it is important to start reading books that show multi-racial characters to them. This will help them as they grow older.