My child is worried about the news

Be open

Let your child know they can talk to you about what they have seen or heard.

You could say:

• “I have noticed that you saw the news earlier. Do you have any questions?”
• “You might have heard about what happened. Would you like to talk about it?”

If your family is directly affected, we have advice to support children after a traumatic event.

Let your child lead

Start by asking what your child already knows. Ask what they have heard and where they heard it.

This helps you understand what they think has happened.

It also helps you decide how much information to share. Your child may not be ready to hear the full story.

Ask about their feelings

Children may feel worried, frightened, angry or confused. Some may feel many emotions at once.

Listen carefully and let them know their feelings make sense. Try not to dismiss or minimise their feelings. You could just say “I’m really glad you told me how you feel.”

Young children may find it difficult to talk about what is bothering them. Joining their play can help you understand what they are feeling.

We can’t always make the feelings go away but creating a space for children to express themselves, either verbally or through play, is often enough.

Look for facts together

Be honest and say that you may not have all the answers. You can offer to look for information together.

For example if they are worried about a war or conflict, you could look at a map together. Seeing how far away it is may reassure them.

Discuss how to verify information online

Talk about the importance of getting news from reliable sources.

Explain that:

• some information online may not be true,
• videos and images can easily be edited for all kinds of purpose.

Encourage your child to question what they see:

• Who shared this with me and why?
• When was it published?
• Has a trusted source confirmed it?

Child-friendly news sources in the UK include CBBC newsround and The Week Junor.

Explain that news tends to focus on the worst

News often focuses on dramatic or negative events because they attract more viewers.

This can make these events seem more common than they really are, but it is good to keep in mind that the reason they are on the news at the first place is because they are so uncommon.

You could add that while these events do happen, they are rare. Most people are safe most of the time.

Explain that it is a good idea to limit how much news we watch as seeing too many upsetting stories can make worries grow.

Notice the helpers

News stories often focus on what has gone wrong. But there are usually many people helping too.

You could talk with your child about the doctors, volunteers, rescue workers or communities supporting others. Seeing how people help can make difficult news feel less overwhelming.

If your child wants to help, you could support them to raise money for a charity, learn more about how people help others, or share messages of kindness.

Accept uncertainty

Children may ask what will happen next. Often, the honest answer is that we do not know.

You might say: “It sounds like you feel unsure about what might happen next. That can feel worrying.”

Let them know it is okay to feel this way.

This activity from Place2Be’s Art room might help them learn to manage their worries: Soothing Worries wellbeing activity pack,

When to get extra support

Many children feel worried for a short time after hearing upsetting news.

If worries last for several weeks, or start to affect sleep, school, or daily life, it may help to seek extra support.

You could speak with your child’s school, GP, or a mental health professional.

Take care of yourself

Children’s ability to cope is influenced by the important adults in their lives.

It is important that you look after your own mental health and seek support if you feel overwhelmed.

For more support please contact:

• Shout Text Helpline, text SHOUT to 85258 to contact Shout for free, 24/7.
• The Young Minds Parents Helpline, call for free on 0808 802 5544 (9.30am - 4pm, Monday-Friday, UK).