Big Conversations with Little Children

Addressing Questions, Worries, and Fears

Lauren Starnes Ed.D.

• Publisher: Free Spirit Publishing
• Year: 2022
• eBook ISBN: 9781631986338
• Topic: Education
• Subtopic: Education Theory & Practice

Be prepared to respond to a wide range of potentially tough questions and sensitive concerns posed by young children. To work with young children is to constantly expect the unexpected. Tough questions are part of early childhood educators' regular interactions with children and families. Based on children's actual questions, Big Conversations with Little Children is readily accessible with guidelines for having difficult conversations with children, individually or as a classroom or group, and with families. The book provides guidance on how to approach specific topics related to: family, such as unemployment, divorce, and incarceration, illness and death, such as loss of an unborn child, major illness in a child, and death of a pet, social issues, such as racism, family structures, and gender fluidity, upheaval and violence, such as natural disaster, terror events, and school shootings, Fully based in developmentally appropriate practice, Big Conversations with Little Children helps educators support young children in a way that preserves their dignity and innocence when they encounter world and social events in addition to honoring the family's preferred approach. An expert in the field of early childhood education, author Dr. Lauren Starnes empowers educators and families to answer sensitive or tough questions children pose, respond to their worries and concerns, and be prepared for an ongoing dialogue. Digital content includes family take-home information sheets for each topic.

Table of contents

• A
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Contents Cont.
• List of Printable Pages for Families vii
• Introduction 1
• Building and Nurturing Trust 1
• Preparing for Your Role 3
• About This Book 5
• Part I: Preparing for Difficult Conversations 9
• Partnering with Families About Communicating with Children 11
• General Family Check-In Questions 11
• Framework for Parent Conversation Starters 12
• Next Steps: Taking the Conversation Further 12
• Rules of Thumb for Difficult Conversations 13
• Other Important Considerations in Preparing for Big Conversations 17
• The Child’s Developmental Level 17
• Maintaining Confidentiality and Honoring Privacy 18
• Family Considerations 20
• Part II: Conversation Topics 23
• Big Conversations About Family Issues 25
• Unemployment 26
• Substance Abuse and Addiction 34
• Separation and Divorce 43
• Military Deployment 51
• Incarceration 58
• Big Conversations About Illness and Death 65
• Major Illness of an Adult 67
• Major Illness and Medical Conditions in Children 75
• Miscarriage 84
• Death of a Pet 91
• Death of a Family Member 99
• Death of a Friend or Classmate 107
• Death of a Teacher or Caregiver 116
• Big Conversations About Social Issues 125
• Race and Culture 127
• Hunger and Food Insecurity 138
• Physical and Cognitive Differences 146
• Family Structure 155
• Sex and Sexuality 164
• Gender 173
• Big Conversations About Upheaval and Violence 181
• Natural Disaster 183
• Social Upheaval 192
• Gun Violence and Terror Events 200
• References 210
• Index 214
• About the Author 219
• B