by Cynthia Páez-Bowman
Originally published at Safety.com on March 18., 2021.
We’re living in challenging times these days — and our own worries and fears aren’t lost on our children. A recent Safety.com survey reports that “More than three-fourths of parents claim at least one event in the past year has impacted their child(ren)’s sense of safety.”
The survey found that kids were exposed to distressing topics in several ways:
- TV/Internet: 50%
- News (from any source e.g. cable, online, etc.): 49%
- School: 41%
- Friends/Peers: 39%
- Social Media: 37%
- Family: 36%
TV, the internet and other news sources were the top sources causing fear. Fortunately, 90% of parents with children under 18 reported being aware of the digital content their children are consuming.
Parents may be aware of how television — and media in general — can sometimes be a negative influence on a child’s sense of well-being. They may even restrict screen time to limit such exposure. But when it comes to protecting your own kids’ peace of mind, the most important step is talking with them.
