Tragic current events can be among the most difficult discussions to hold with children. As is evident amid the ongoing Israel-Gaza crisis, however, topics that affect the world also impact children, making these conversations vital. That’s why the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum is launching a new “Communicating During Crisis” series to help educators and parents engage in difficult conversations with youth about these issues. The first workshops in the series will take place November 20 and 29.
“Since October 7, the museum has received numerous inquiries from parents and educators seeking guidance on how to address challenging topics and global events, such as the ongoing conflict in Israel & Gaza,” director of education Helen Turner said in a press release. “In response, we’ve developed a new series specifically tailored to support parents and educators. It’s designed to provide them with the necessary resources to effectively discuss current world events with young people, meeting them at their level of understanding.”
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According to the press release, each program will include “resources and discussions about how to support and talk to young people about reactions, responses, and responsibilities connected to the current events taking place in Israel and Gaza.” The elements of discussion will include digesting the news, approaching conversations with children and teens, social media, and reporting incidents.
The program is part of the museum’s Change Begins with Us campaign, “an initiative designed to empower St. Louis area visitors to work collectively to fight antisemitism and all forms of hate.”
If you can’t make the workshop but are still in need of tips for healthy approaches to these conversations with your kids, Turner shared several tips:
1. Do your background research. Have an idea of what you want to share or not, depending on the age of your child. Ideally, you should have a basic outline of what you want to discuss, Turner suggests, as well as an idea of what is enough information for your child and what might be too much. “For example, graphic details of atrocities might not be appropriate for some children, whereas older children might want more details,” she says. Turner adds that only you, as a parent, know that line.
2. Encourage questions. Be comfortable saying, “I’m not sure. I’ll find out,” Turner says. “It’s perfectly OK to demonstrate that you’re learning together.” Approach questions with an open mind, and don’t be afraid to table the conversation before returning with more information.
3. View the conversation as ongoing. Know that you don’t need all of the answers right away. “These conversations are often on large, evolving topics,” Turner says. “It’s OK to simply begin with, ‘You might have heard about this in school today; let’s talk about what I know right now.’” Allow space for your child to come back to the conversation over time.
4. Stay grounded in humanizing language. “All people are people,” says Turner. “Refrain from dehumanizing language… If we dehumanize any person or group of people, we inadvertently remove them from responsibility… We also need to remember that all victims are people, too—just like us.”
5. Keep the conversation in perspective. Overall, Turner says, “It’s OK to be nervous about these kinds of conversations. What’s important is to stay grounded in what you know, be curious about what you and your child can learn, and view the conversation as an opening, not as an answer.”
To learn more and register for the events, visit stlholocaustmuseum.org/change-begins-with-us.
