Telling Your Child You’re Seriously Ill
After weeks of endless (and often unkind) speculation, we now know: Princess Kate has cancer. She explains that she and…
MorePosts tagged: Fears
Spiritual Care with Seriously Ill Children
When a friend’s daughter was diagnosed with leukemia, everyone around them was shocked and dismayed. We wondered how…
MoreTalking with Kids about the Chiefs Parade Shooting
Nearly a million people were celebrating the Kansas City Chiefs and their Super Bowl win when shots rang out, killing…
MoreManaging Fears with Migration
When my daughter was little, she watched a movie where the mother died. Afterward, she would become upset every time…
MoreEl Día de Los Muertos
Hobgoblins, witches, and ghosts are staples of Halloween, celebrated with glee by children throughout North America.…
MoreTalking about the Israel/Palestine Conflict with Children
After the 9/11 terrorist attack, my four year old asked, “Mommy, were there children on those planes?” I responded…
MoreResisting Bias with Brian the Brave
Children begin learning about differences at a young age. Figuring out how to categorize things is one of the ways they…
MoreTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Spirituality
My kids used to grab paper and pens and create their own comics. Their scratchy designs would tell stories about their…
MoreExploring The Coquíes Still Sing
I grew up in Oklahoma, where tornadoes are a common summer occurrence. My family would huddle in the basement as sirens…
MoreUsing Movement to Reduce Trauma Responses
Numerous studies show that stress is on the rise among children. Some experts suggest that school closures and pandemic…
MoreExploring Fears with Bright Star
Fears are a part of childhood. Whether it’s worries about monsters under the bed, big dogs, loud noises, or parents…
MoreSuper Mario Spirituality
The Super Mario Bros. Movie begins with the Nintendo game’s familiar theme music, a siren call to multiple…
MoreTalking about Lockdown Drills with One Thursday Afternoon
Lockdown (Active Shooter) Drills have become a staple of children’s lives. Schools and organizations build them into…
MoreTalking about the Nashville School Shooting
Another school shooting, this time in Nashville. Seven people dead (including the shooter) and many more traumatized…
MoreBoosting Resilience with a ‘Helping Hand’
My kindergartener woke in the middle of the night sobbing. We had just learned earlier that her friend’s mom had been…
MoreTalking about Ukraine with I Hate Borsch
Earlier this month, UNESCO added borsch, the national soup of Ukraine, to its list of endangered cultural heritage…
MoreReading What Do You Do with a Chance?
Taking chances is risky. Some children can’t wait to explore the unknown. Others prefer familiar structures and…
MoreExploring Lightyear with Children
As long time fans of Toy Story, my children were excited to learn Buzz’s backstory. They watched as Buzz and Alesha…
MoreTalking with Kids about the Uvalde School Shooting
A school terrorized by an active shooter. A classroom of children injured and dead. Teachers killed trying to protect…
MoreTalking about the War in Ukraine
A refugee toddler’s body washed up face down on a beach. A police officer kneeling on a handcuffed Black man’s…
MoreSpiritual Counseling
For many children, the COVID-19 pandemic has been a time of trauma, grief, and loss. Even if children have come through…
MoreExplaining Gun Violence
Mass shootings have become commonplace in the U.S. No matter how a parent feels about gun control, the thought of…
MoreA Lament How-To
When life gets tough, a spiritual practice that deals with anxiety can make the difference between a whiny child and…
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