Psychiatrist weighs in on ways to speak to children about racial inequality

A local doctor is educating parents on ways to talk to children about the nationwide racial tension.

News 12 Staff

Jun 3, 2020, 8:30 PM

Updated 1,421 days ago

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A local doctor is educating parents on ways to talk to children about the nationwide racial tension.
Dr. Abraham Bartell of Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital says it’s important to avoid seeing your child’s world through your eyes.
"You make a certain set of assumptions, you may project your concerns fears and questions onto them when in reality you want to listen to what they have to say,” says Bartell. “You wanna follow their lead, you want to meet them where they are.”
In the age of social media, it may be hard to avoid the images of peaceful protests, looting and the last moments of George Floyd’s life.
The chief of child and adolescent psychiatry also mentioned that while it may be difficult to block what children are learning, there are ways to talk them through their questions and what they may feel.
“Rather than getting good about how to talk, we should worry about and get really good at listening,” says Bartell.
He says to follow the four F’s of communication:
  • Don’t Force the conversation - Children have to “be prepared, they’ve gotta be ready, mentally and intellectually.”
  • Don’t Forbid talking about recent events
  • It’s recommended to Follow your child’s lead
  • Parents should strive to control the Flow of information, meaning try not to see their world through your eyes, be more open-minded


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