Time to CHILL

“Who is the biggest liar?”

“Do we have to move to Canada?”

“Are we going to have a nuclear war?”

“Are we safe?”

Questions from an angry voter? No! These are actually questions that I have been asked by children between the ages of 7 and 12. I have never seen such fear in children, we are creating a generation of adults with anxiety disorders! Not the type of job security that I am interested in.

During the Cuban missile crisis, I was a 10-year-old 4^th grader. We were closer to nuclear war than we have ever been. In school, we used to have nuclear war drills. We would huddle against the concrete walls in a fetal position in case we were told that the missiles were launched. It was a much more immediate and serious situation than any we faced during this election, but far less traumatizing. We still ran home from school, changed into our “play clothes” and focused on kid stuff.   If we were able to watch TV, our leaders portrayed strength and reassurance. Even during that crisis, our children lived in childhood not a state of daily fear.

Unfortunately, we no longer have leaders we have politicians. We have gone from debate to accusations and insults. Journalists are now sensationalist muckrakers who delight in the negative and ignore the good. Tragically, it is our children who are suffering from this 24/7 media bombardment. Arguments, disrespect, even bullying are spilling into the playground as a result of months of nasty conflict that they have witnessed.

This election season was the perfect example of how destructive our electronic world can be to our children. Their brains are simply not equipped to handle the information overload. They think in black and white, unable to process and filter out the difference between reality and pandering for votes.

It is time to chill! I know that we cannot just turn off the media, but you can control the environment. Don’t watch the news with the kids around. When they are watching TV, make it a rule that as soon as a commercial comes on, mute the sound. I learned that from Pete and Paula and it works! Turn off the electronics at meals and talk.

You can also turn this into a civics lesson. Discuss the structure of government and the balance of power that protects us from tyranny. Most importantly, understand that anxiety develops and gets worse when a person feels a lack of control.   Children are no different! So, if they are expressing fear about the election, sit down with them and have them write a letter to their representatives, even the President! It empowers them and sets a great precedent for becoming a good citizen.

Hug them and make them feel safe.