Talking to Children About ICE: A Guide for Parents
As the news surrounding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) continues to spread, parents are left wondering how to approach conversations with their children about this complex and often distressing topic. According to Dr. Anna Batho, a clinical psychologist specializing in critical care, avoidance is not the best approach.
Instead, parents should engage in open and honest discussions with their children, acknowledging that kids of all ages can pick up on cues and cues from their surroundings. The timing is crucial; choose a moment when everyone is relaxed and has time to talk. Even if deep conversations are new to you, starting with something familiar like walking or playing together can help establish a sense of calm.
The conversation should begin by listening to what your child already knows about ICE or the videos they've seen. This will give you an idea of their level of understanding and allow you to gauge their concerns. Be curious and take note of any fears or worries, as these need to be validated.
When explanations are necessary, use clear language adjusted to the child's age group, avoiding euphemisms that may confuse them further. Keep your explanation simple but concrete. It's essential to follow up with your child after explaining the topic, asking how they're feeling and validating their emotions.
If reassurance is needed, grounding it in facts can be helpful. For example, if a child fears their parent might be harmed by ICE, explain the real circumstances and check that your explanation makes sense to them. It's also crucial to keep the door open for future conversations, reassuring your child they can talk about ICE with you whenever they want.
Finally, help your child return to the present moment. This can be done by offering a tight squeeze hug, refocusing on playtime, or simply engaging in an activity together. By following Dr. Batho's advice, parents can navigate this complex topic with their children and provide them with the support they need during these uncertain times.
As the news surrounding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) continues to spread, parents are left wondering how to approach conversations with their children about this complex and often distressing topic. According to Dr. Anna Batho, a clinical psychologist specializing in critical care, avoidance is not the best approach.
Instead, parents should engage in open and honest discussions with their children, acknowledging that kids of all ages can pick up on cues and cues from their surroundings. The timing is crucial; choose a moment when everyone is relaxed and has time to talk. Even if deep conversations are new to you, starting with something familiar like walking or playing together can help establish a sense of calm.
The conversation should begin by listening to what your child already knows about ICE or the videos they've seen. This will give you an idea of their level of understanding and allow you to gauge their concerns. Be curious and take note of any fears or worries, as these need to be validated.
When explanations are necessary, use clear language adjusted to the child's age group, avoiding euphemisms that may confuse them further. Keep your explanation simple but concrete. It's essential to follow up with your child after explaining the topic, asking how they're feeling and validating their emotions.
If reassurance is needed, grounding it in facts can be helpful. For example, if a child fears their parent might be harmed by ICE, explain the real circumstances and check that your explanation makes sense to them. It's also crucial to keep the door open for future conversations, reassuring your child they can talk about ICE with you whenever they want.
Finally, help your child return to the present moment. This can be done by offering a tight squeeze hug, refocusing on playtime, or simply engaging in an activity together. By following Dr. Batho's advice, parents can navigate this complex topic with their children and provide them with the support they need during these uncertain times.
I think its super important for parents to have open & honest conversations with kids about ICE. Like if your kid already knows some stuff from videos or school, just listen 2 what they say 1st & see how worried they are. Then you can give them the lowdown in a way that makes sense 4 them. I mean we dont want 2 confuse them more 
. Also, reassure them that u r there 4 them no matter wut happens. Sometimes its not about what u say but wut ur kid feels like they can talk about w/ u. And after the convo is over, just chill with them for a bit & do something fun together 
The thing is, I feel like we're all kinda winging it when it comes to talking about ICE with our kids. Like, we're not even sure what's going on ourselves! 
. And hey, starting with something small like playing together can help set the tone for a calm conversation 
. I think we should just try to have open and honest conversations with our kids, even if it's not always easy...
, but I guess it's only a matter of time. And honestly, who doesn't already know about all the crazy videos and news stories that pop up online every day? 
I think what's key is just being honest and open with them from the start, even if you don't fully understand the topic yourself. Like, Dr. Batho says to listen to what they're already thinking about it and validate their fears... makes total sense to me 
it's crazy how much kids pick up on when we think they're not paying attention 
i mean, have you ever seen a kid's reaction to a news report about ICE? 
they might not be old enough to fully understand the politics behind it, but they can feel the emotions and energy around it. we need to acknowledge that and approach these conversations with care 
it's a small start, but every bit counts 
i had to take a deep breath & have the convo with him rn 
we talked about what ICE is & that dads dont get taken away like that, we even watched a video together to help him understand 
its hard to balance giving them info w/ not scaring them too much 
And what's up with the whole "avoidance isn't an option" vibe? Can't we just be honest and say we don't know what's going on sometimes? I mean, my friends and I were all like 12 when 9/11 happened... did our parents actually have to sit us down and explain it in a way that made sense? 
. And yeah, sometimes all you can do is offer a big hug and say "I've got this" when things are tough 
I think its super important for kids to know what's going on with ICE, not just because of the info they see online but also from the conversations they hear at home 
. It might feel awkward or uncomfortable for us as parents but its way better than trying to avoid it altogether 
! According to a study from 2022, 70% of children under 18 have witnessed or heard about immigration issues on social media 
. That's a lot of info for young minds to process! As Dr. Batho said, avoiding the topic won't make it go away... it'll just cause more anxiety 
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like what's the point of even having it?? I mean, it's not just about enforcement, it's also about families being torn apart and kids being traumatized... can't we just focus on fixing our immigration system instead of chasing after people who are already here trying to live their lives? 
And what's with all the "guides" for parents like this?! Can't they just be honest for once and say that ICE is basically a bad thing? 
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. Its a fine line to walk, ya feel me?
. Kids are way smarter than we give 'em credit for, they can pick up on so much just by watching our reactions & body language 
. The key is to choose the right time when everyone's chill & relaxed, then just listen to what they already know & see where it takes us 
. Like, I'm sure it's super stressful trying to figure out what to say to your kids about something so serious