How to Talk About Difficult Topics: Part Two
As I mentioned in
my introduction, I am currently completing my final Social Work practicum at
Maple Ridge Family Education and Support Centre. One of my tasks is to research and write curriculum for new parent education courses.
I’ve been working on a course called ‘How to Talk to your Children about Difficult Topics’ and, in
my last post, I discussed a number of things to keep in mind when discussing these types of things with your children. In this post I’d like to offer up some ways for us start a dialogue with our kids and support them in asking questions and making decisions:
➢ Use books to open the door to conversation, age-appropriate books will help our children find ways to voice questions or concerns.
➢ Use a personal story. Sharing our feelings around, for example ‘our first kiss’ helps our children see that we have been through a similar experience.
➢ Use everyday opportunities to talk about these subjects i.e.: after watching a TV show where someone was using drugs have a conversation about drugs, or after seeing a pregnant woman ask our kids if they know how the baby got in her belly to start a conversation about sex.
➢ Role play ways to say ‘no’: i.e.: "No, thanks. Let's play with my Wii instead," or "No thanks. I don't drink beer. I need to keep in shape for soccer."
➢ Use nature to talk about death. Buy a goldfish or a flower so our children can observe fist hand what ‘dead’ means.
I would love your feedback on this two part post. Did you find this information useful? Do you have any tips I should add to my lists?
Maple Ridge Family Education and Support Centre is a not-for-profit society that has provided programs to the communities of Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows, BC since 1971. For more information about their programs and services please see their
website.
~Sarah
Labels: death, divorce, drugs, Maple Ridge Family Education and Support Centre, Parent Ed, Sarah, sex
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