Helping Kids Through Tough Times

Resources for Parents

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We long for the day that natural disasters and senseless violence will be but a distant memory.
Yet our children are exposed to these horrific events in the media on a regular basis.
How can we guide them in ways that will help them to grow into mature adults?
How can we quell our own fears while keeping the children calm and feeling safe?

The links below offer some guidance for what to say (and what not to say), for what to do (and what not to do), and how to help children navigate tough times in their lives.

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Bishop Mariann Budde:
A Plea for Mercy and a Call to Action

A youth ministry session resource from Illustrated Ministry

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Leading Conversations After a Crisis 
from Learning for Justice (formerly Teaching Tolerance)


Helping Kids Cope with a Violent World
 

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Conversations About Death

• Good-Grief.org     Support for children, teens, and families after the death of a parent

• Talking About Death with Children

• Books
  - Good Grief: Helping Groups of Children When a Friend Dies by Sandra Sutherland Fo
  -  Help Me Say Goodbye: Activities for Helping Kids Cope When a Special Person Dies by Janis Silverman

• Children's Books about Death, Loss, and Coping
  Badger's Paring Gifts by Susan Varley
  Everett Anderson's Goodbye by Lucille Clifton
  The Fall of Freddie the Leaf by Leo Buscaglia
  I Remember Miss Perry by Pat Brisson
  The Memory Book: A Grief Journal for Children & Families by Joanna Rowland
  The 10th Good Thing About Barney by Judith Viorst
  Tear Soup by Pat Schwiebert
  Waterbugs and Dragonflies by Doris Stickney

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Disasters

• Spiritual Care for Children After a Disaster - a blog from Building Faith

• Coping After a Disaster workbook for children

• Spiritual Care Supply Kit for children for after a disaster

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Divorce

• Resources for children and families from Hope 4 Hurting Kids.

• Visit I Am a Child of Divorce for resources specifically for children
  
   

Gun Violence

• A Faith-Based Intergenerational Resource for Conversation and Action to Prevent Gun Violence from the Disciples of Christ

• Gun Violence Prevention Congregational Toolkit from the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship

• School Shootings and Community Gun Violence - What to Say to Children and How to Help Them Cope from Bradley Hospital and RI Council of Churches  (in English and Spanish)

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Support for Parents

• Conversation starters for families by Christine V. Hides

• ​Faith Formation at Home with Traci Smith

• Prayers for Families video from Traci Smith

• Real Kids Real Faith - timely blogs on topics in support of children and families

• Book:  When Kids Ask Hard Questions: Faith-filled Responses for Tough Questions by Bromleigh Mc Cleneghan & Karen Ware Jackson

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Pornography

• What To Do When a Child Has Been Exposed from Defend Young Minds

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Trauma

• Helping Children and Youth Cope with Traumatic Events from the National Institute of Mental Health

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How to Raise Kids to Tell the Truth
    a blog by Cindy Wang Brandt, author of Parenting Forward

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Some Things Congregations Can Do

• Collect comfort supplies for local hospitals such as stuffed animals, snuggle blankets, comforting children's books, good quality craft supplies, tote bags of drawing pads & Crayons/markers, etc. BUT only after checking with the specific needs from the facility first!

• Connect with agencies, such as the Children's Room in Arlington, MA, for ideas and opportunities to help

• Gather a Prayer Group together

• Contact volunteers to make meals for a grieving family

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