Apr
27
2021
J. Zoe Klemfuss, assistant professor of psychological science, was a featured guest on an episode of “Talking with Kids,” a podcast of Pandemic Parenting.
“How we talk with children about past events matters,” Pandemic Parenting notes. “Whether the event was negative, emotional, or even mundane, how we approach these conversations influences the way children process and remember the event.”
Klemfuss delved into why it is important to talk with kids about the past and how to best have those conversations. Among the questions she addressed:
- Why is it important to talk to children about past events, including difficult events? What are the benefits for doing so?
- Should parents be worried that bringing up difficult events with children could traumatize them?
- Is there a right way to bring up a negative or traumatic event in conversation with kids?
- How can we encourage children and teens to talk about their emotions?
- How much is too much? To what extent should we share our own emotions with our child(ren)?