Negativity in the Media- 4 Things Parents can do
In a society where disturbing news is posted daily and is accessible to all, regardless of age, many children and teens are finding themselves feeling hopeless, anxious, and scared. If these feelings are not addressed, repeated exposure to disturbing news reinforces the emotions into attitudes and ways of thinking. These attitudes tend to be negative, pessimistic, and cynical, and ultimately impact your child’s mental health and their ability to function in the future.
Though it is impossible to completely shield your child from learning about terrible occurrences in society, there are ways to limit exposure and to help them process events in healthy ways. Below are four suggestions on what to do at home:
Create a safe space for your children to come to you with questions about things they see on the news or social media or hear at school. Answer their questions with age-appropriate language and disclosures.
Limit access to the news and use parental controls to reduce the exposure to traumatizing content. This will allow you to share information that is appropriate for their age.
Be mindful of what the adults are speaking about in the home. Children are curious, so when they hear about things that upset their parents, they are likely to look the issues up online.
Each day, discuss positive topics and to express gratitude with your family. Many of my clients practice “Gratitudes” at the dinner table, asking each member to share something they are grateful for. This promotes positivity and optimistic thinking.
If you find that your child or teen is struggling with negative media and needs more help, reach out today. 720-689-6166
