Check out 16 Return-To-Work Programs In India For Ambitious Women Like You!
The news is everywhere - and there is nothing you can do to stop your kids from coming to know of the violence that happens in the world. How do you talk to them and make them feel safe?
The news is everywhere – and there is nothing you can do to stop your kids from coming to know of the violence that happens in the world. How do you talk to them and make them feel safe?
The whole nation is reeling with distress in the aftermath of the horrific attack on CRPF jawans in Pulwama Kashmir. It’s hard to fathom the agony of a family, seeing mortal remains of their own wrapped in tricolor. Makes one seethe in anger and rightly so, but amidst the entire tragedy how are our children coping with all the news of violence, and how do we deal with it?
Children perceive inhuman, violent information differently from grownups. While adults are able to logically analyze and express their sadness and anger, children are unable to do so.
Little kids on seeing graphic images on TV, or hearing their parents talking about such incidents might imagine that this is happening to them or might happen to their parents. They also don’t understand the concept of a footage shown on TV in a loop, and believe that the events are happening over and over again.
Even older kids get psychologically distressed by such news, and unable to make sense of things, can start exhibiting unusual behaviour. Children may become aggressive, clingy or rude. There have been instances of kids experiencing nightmares or bed-wetting episodes in the aftermath of traumatic events.
Kids will get to know about current happenings from news and media or other sources, and there’s often nothing we can do to stop that. But there are certain steps which we can take as responsible adults.
Children less than 3 years old are too young to understand and should be completely kept away from violent news. Switch off the TV to avoid any accidental graphic visuals. Babies are constantly observing us and easily sense our anxiety, even while they seem to be busy in playing, so it’s better to defer talking about such events when the kids are asleep or in another room.
For children above 3 years it is inevitable that they will hear about significant news from their friends, school, caretakers, or someone else. It is most important for parents to become the right source of information.
We can only hope for a world which is free from violence, but till then it is also not advisable to shield children and keep them in a cocoon. Not only there is a risk of them getting incorrect information, but also being ignorant of happenings around the world and growing up with wrong notions.
May the brave hearts who lost their life rest in peace, and God give strength to grieving families to bear the loss.
A version of this was first published here.
Image source: stills from the movie Uri
Dentist, writer, corporate healthcare professional. In my earlier avatar, I taught budding dentists and published a book on my subject expertise. A ‘sabbatical’ from work to take care of my super-energetic baby girl reignited read more...
Women's Web is an open platform that publishes a diversity of views, individual posts do not necessarily represent the platform's views and opinions at all times.
Stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter or Daily Summary - or both!
UP Boards Topper Prachi Nigam was trolled on social media for her facial hair; our obsession with appearance is harsh on young minds.
Prachi Nigam’s photo has been doing the rounds on social media for the right reasons. Well, scratch that- I wish the above statement were true. This 15-year-old girl should ideally be revelling in her spectacular achievement of scoring a whopping 98.05% and topping her tenth-grade boards. But oddly enough, along with her marks, it’s something else that garners more attention – her facial hair.
While the trolls are driving themselves giddy by mocking this girl who hasn’t even completed her school yet, the ones who are taking her side are going one step ahead – they are sharing her photoshopped pictures, sans the facial hair, looking nothing less than a celebrity with captions saying – “Prachi Nigam, ten years later”.
Doctors have already diagnosed her with PCOD in their comments, based on photographic evidence. While we have names for people shamed for their weight – body shaming, for their skin colour- racism, for their age- age shaming, for being a female- sexism, this category of shaming where one faces criticism for their appearance has no name. With that, it also has zero shame attached to it.
Please enter your email address