How can I discuss difficult topics with my child?

Sometimes it is better to ease in to a difficult conversation with your child. Here are some ways you can get a conversation started:

• Read a newspaper or magazine article aloud and discuss it.
• Watch the evening news with your child and talk about local, national, and world events.
• Many popular family-oriented television shows delve into issues like smoking, alcohol use, and relationships. Use these programs as a springboard into discussions after the show is over. Commercials and public service announcements can also serve as conversation starters.

From Good Kids, Bad Habits: The RealAge Guide to Raising Healthy Children by Jennifer Trachtenberg.

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It is better to ease into discussing difficult topics with your child. Here are some ways you can get a conversation started:

Read a newspaper or magazine article aloud and discuss it.

Watch the evening news with your child and talk about local, national, and world events. 

Many popular family-oriented television shows delve into issues like smoking, alcohol use, and relationships. Use these programs as a springboard into discussions after the show is over. Commercials and public service announcements can also serve as conversation starters.

When something bad or difficult happens, it's important to know how to explain it to kids. In this video, psychologist Dr. Tamar Chansky, who specializes in anxiety, offers tips for helping a child through an upsetting time.