During the couple of weeks off school, the children you teach may have encountered unsettling or sensitive news stories online, or heard about them via word of mouth. Now that schools are reopening, children might want to discuss recent news and events with their teachers and peers. So, here are 5 tips for discussing sensitive news with children from the Picture News education consultants. 1. Think about the timing of your discussions Holding news-based discussions in the mornings can work well. A conversation early in the day means that children have the rest of the school day to reflect and share any further questions or worries with you before home time. Some children may prefer to have more time to reflect on the news and process how it makes them feel. Talking in the morning also gives you more time to investigate the news further as a class, or consider the ways that you as a school community could positively make a difference to what’s happening, such as petitioning or fundraising. 2. Allow for emotional expression Sensitive news can prompt an array of emotions for all of us, including children. Anticipate a spectrum of reactions and responses from children when discussing the news, and provide opportunities for them to express how they’re feeling. Each child will have individual preferences for communicating their emotions, so try a variety of tools. · Emotion cards, including emotion vocabulary · Visual aids · Post-its · Smiley faces · Creativity – art or creative writing · Worry boxes · Group discussions · 1-1 chats These suggestions are in no way exhaustive. You know the children you teach best, so utilise and adapt the tools you feel will suit your pupils’ needs the most! 3. Consider how much detail you want to give When thinking about how you’ll share news stories with children, consider their age and developmental stage. Be sure to vet any content you might use to help explanations, including images and videos. For younger children, you may wish to simplify news events into relatable concepts, like being kind or unkind, fair or unfair. For older children, divulging more information can be appropriate. Avoid talking too much at once as you explain news events. This can help children process the news at their own pace. Reactions and understanding of news stories will differ for every child, but be confident in your knowledge and expertise as you gauge how much information to share. 4. Set out your expectations for group discussions If you’re discussing sensitive news events together a class, consider setting expectations with your pupils beforehand. To maintain a safe and respectful environment, your expectations could include: · Everyone can share their voices · Everyone should be respected, even when disagreeing · Everyone’s feelings and reactions should be considered · Everyone should feel listened to – avoid talking over others 5. Remember to share the positives too Nestled within sensitive topics tend to be positive stories. During times of hardship reflected in the news, we can often find reassuring cases of how people are responding, such as showing resilience in the face of adversity, or communities pulling together. These examples can ultimately show our children important lessons of morality, citizenship, and unity. You could also support children to consider how you as a school community could get involved in the issues presented in the news, to make a positive change. Think about how, together, you can raise awareness and use your voices. Taking action during challenging times can be a productive way to process what’s happening, whilst learning key skills about citizenship, as children learn to engage with the issues facing their communities and the wider world. Request the Picture News Sensitive News E-Guide here to keep some tips to hand!
