Choose a news story that’s appropriate for your child’s age and maturity level
Just because a child understands something doesn’t mean they’re emotionally ready to process the information. Certain events, like war or death, can emotionally scar a child or cause anxiety. Explicit images can also deeply affect children.
That’s why it’s important to monitor your child’s media consumption. If possible, you should also try to be present when your child is reading or watching the news. That way, you can do the following:
- Watch your child’s reactions and intervene accordingly
- Answer their questions
- Help them put things in perspective
- Etc.
Encourage additional research
Once a week, you can ask your child to conduct additional online research on a current event. This activity will not only spark their curiosity, but also allow them to do the following:
Ask them to summarize the story
It’s important to be able to summarize information clearly and concisely—not just in an academic setting, but in real life! For instance, this skill will help your child identify important information and organize their thoughts. The first time they summarize a news story, remind them to answer these six fundamental questions:
- Who?
- What?
- Where?
- When?
- How?
- Why?