The week's best parenting advice: June 2, 2020

How to talk to kids about racial violence, encouraging new data from reopened schools, and more

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1. How to talk to kids about racial violence

Talking to children about racism and the ongoing protests against police brutality in America is "essential," child psychology experts tell USA Today. "Avoiding the topic is not a solution," says psychologist and author Beverly Daniel Tatum. Be honest about what's happening, using age-appropriate language, and "let children know that some police officers break laws," adds Erlanger Turner, a clinical psychologist and assistant professor of psychology at Pepperdine University. Showing children distressing videos of police brutality could cause trauma. Instead "describe what happened and talk about why it was wrong," says Daniel Tatum. If there's a police officer you know and trust, introducing them to your child in person could help reduce fear. White parents shouldn't encourage "color blindness" or "not seeing color," Daniel Tatum says, because this "does not honor an individual's identity." Instead, "conversations should focus on raising anti-racist children and encouraging more friendships with children from other races." Most importantly, parents have to model anti-racist behavior themselves.

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Jessica Hullinger

Jessica Hullinger is a writer and former deputy editor of The Week Digital. Originally from the American Midwest, she completed a degree in journalism at Indiana University Bloomington before relocating to New York City, where she pursued a career in media. After joining The Week as an intern in 2010, she served as the title’s audience development manager, senior editor and deputy editor, as well as a regular guest on “The Week Unwrapped” podcast. Her writing has featured in other publications including Popular Science, Fast Company, Fortune, and Self magazine, and she loves covering science and climate-related issues.