Answering the Hard Questions – What Kids Need to Know

The world is a tricky place and kids are naturally curious. They are learning to be imaginative, open-minded, and critical thinkers. As we teach our children how to look at the world it is important to encourage their curiosity but to do so in a way that is useful!

We think we can shelter our children against difficult topics but the truth is that they will get wind of them somewhere. Whether school, a friend, the news, they are listening and observing. They are processing in their own young minds just what all this stuff means to them in their small world.

Our job? Answering the hard questions.

When questions arise from our kids or if they seem to be bothered or worried about something and you can’t quite pinpoint it, it’s time to have a little talk. Yikes! You may think you don’t have the tools for such things, but you do. God will help you!

Just to let you know, I am not a psychologist. Just a Mom of many. So my advice comes from years of experience not a degree.

Here are just a few thoughts on how you can start a conversation or answer questions when they arise about both big and small issues.

Ask! Yep, just start by asking some super simple questions like ‘is something bothering you?’ ‘Do you want to talk about what’s bothering you?’
Trust you heart. You know your kids better than anyone. You can tell if they are really bothered about things. Press in if they really seem to be bothered. If they just seem to be having a bad day, drop it.
I have found that if you have a pretty open relationship and good communication with your kids, sooner or later things will come spilling out. So don’t worry. Trust God and His timing.
If your kids come right out and just start asking questions, answer them! Remember though to get on their level. Get in their minds.
Keep your answers simple. Even with teens! Kids don’t need or want a whole theological discussion about end times! (I am not saying that these things should not be taught, just be careful how they are presented to children)
I have found that with younger children it is best to be vague. Unless they ask a really detailed question that needs a detailed answer don’t do it. It can create more questions and more confusion.
If your kids don’t want to talk and don’t seem to be interested in a specific topic, don’t bother them with it.
Point children to the One who has ALL the answers. God!

What if the topic is a really hard one? We live in a scary fallen world. Our children are no different than us. We need hope, they need hope…the world needs hope. Hope is found in Christ alone.

Might I suggest that we use this time to build our children up in Christ? To teach them that we don’t have all the answers but that Christ does.
Find scripture of God’s amazing power to save and protect us. About how God is in control and no one else. How He sits on His throne but is nearer to us than we can imagine.. That God see’s us and knows our pain.
Teach them to stand on God’s promises. Scripture memory…always make that fun!
Pray with them! Again. Teach them that God is listening and hears our every heartbeat.
Children need to feel safe. And so do we…we need the message ourselves, even more than our children, because if we feel safe in the arms of Christ, so will our children.

Remind them that asking questions is a good thing. It helps to build your relationship with your child.

There is no perfect way to answer all of the questions that our children ask about this crazy world, but where we leave off…God takes over and we can trust him for the rest.

How do you answer these sensitive questions that your children ask?

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