Dear Families,
You have been on my mind and in my heart as we all grapple with the horrifying behaviors seen yesterday at our Capitol in Washington, DC. I hope you have been able to find comforting ways to be with your children and to talk as a family about what is going on. To help with that, below are some resources you might find supportive for your parenting right now.
This Sunday in Chapel/Faith Development for all, we will talk about what happened on Wednesday. I will follow the lead of those who are present in the Zoom room and we will explore together what might guide each of us as we figure out the next right thing to do. I hope you’ll join us. Here’s the link: https://zoom.us/j/94799315145
In faith and with love,
Rev. Leia
Tips from my world of Child Therapy redux: January 6, 2021 by Alice Barber, a psychotherapist in private practice in MA
What to tell the children
(do not assume your child doesn’t know that something big has happened.)
Today:
- Tell them that this is a sad day in our country.
- Tell them that they are okay.
- Tell them that you are okay.
- If the tv is on, watch with them and answer their questions as honestly and as factually as you can.
- Turn off the tv.
- Give them some of the facts.
- This happened at the Capitol, not at the White House. (Some children I’ve spoken with today are confused about this.)
- Tell them that the people who entered the building are no longer there.
- Tell them that the people who entered the building were not protestors.
- Tell them that protesting is something that people do to move our country forward when there are injustices.
- Tell them that the people who entered the building did not do so to move our country forward.
- Tell them that these rioters were wrong to do this.
- Tell them that they picked this day to enter this building because today is the day when the next President of the United States (Joe Biden) and the Vice President (Kamala Harris) were going to be certified (made real?)by the workers in the building.
- Tell them that the people who wrongly entered the building did so because they wanted to stop this process.
- Tell them that they didn’t succeed in stopping the process and that it is happening right now this very minute.
- Tell them that they can ask any questions, that you may not have all the answers, but you will try to figure them out.
Later:
- Tell them about how racism is the underpinning of much of the actions of these rioters.
- Tell them about how some leaders can be dangerous. When they are ready, give specific examples.
- Tell them that, when they are older, voting will be a very, very important job for them to do (in the meantime, take them with you when you vote).
- Tell them to always work hard to make sure all votes count.
How To Process A Scary Day For The Nation With Your Kids by Mariana Dale in News on January 6, 2021
https://laist.com/2021/01/06/how_to_process_a_scary_day_for_the_nation_with_your_kids.php
The Children’s Diversity and Justice Library
https://cdjlibrary.org/news/2021/1/4/engaging-imagination-books-for-january-2021
National Association of School Psychologists is with Silvia Ventura Jacobsen
A disturbing outbreak of violence and breach of the U.S Capitol occurred today. Helping children understand the peaceful transfer of power is fundamental to our democracy. As parents, caregivers, and educators, we have a critical responsibility to help children and youth feel safe and secure and to help them learn how to engage with others of differing viewpoints in a peaceful, tolerant, and respectful manner (https://buff.ly/3s3BHTU). We developed resources in preparation for the November election that remain relevant and can assist adults helping children and youth navigate feelings of uncertainty and strong emotions, understand hate-based violence, and cope with cope with threatening actions or speech.
For Parents/Caregivers: https://buff.ly/399CVog
For Educators: https://buff.ly/3950ZZu
Rev. Leia Durland-Jones
Minister of Faith Development