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How to talk to children about difficult topics

How to talk to children about difficult topics

Feeling confused or anxious shouldn't stop you from having tricky conversations. It’s what your child needs you to do.

Why it's good to talk

There'll be times when children need advice or support.

There’ll also be times when you need to explain something that might upset them.

As their parent or carer, it's up to you to talk to them when you think they need a nudge in the right direction. And to share news or information that’ll affect their lives.

Remember that Childline is always available when they need someone to listen.

Before starting a difficult chat

It’s a good idea to think about where and when’s best to talk.

Where

Do they enjoy one-on-one time out of the house, whether that’s on a walk or in the park? Or would they prefer a private chat at home?

If you're talking to just one child about something, think about how private the time and place are. It might work best to chat at a time when other children aren't around to interrupt.

When

Are they a morning person? Or do they get tired in the evenings? Make sure you’re chatting at a time when you both have the energy for the conversation.

Starting a hard conversation

Being too forceful when you start a hard conversation might stress a child out. They may be too worried to speak. But a more subtle approach might mean they get distracted, and you don’t discuss what you planned to.

These ideas might help.

Make the conversation relevant to them

You could reference a TV show or film they know that addresses the topic. Bring a storyline up and ask what they think about it.

Buy or borrow a book

There are books written to help adults talk to children about particular subjects. After you’ve read the story together a couple of times, ask some gentle questions to check what they’ve understood.

Build on school activities

If they've discussed something in class, you could ask what they thought about the lesson or what their classmates thought.

Say a friend of yours needs advice

Ask for their ideas. It's a nice way to show that you value their opinions while also finding out just how much they know about a subject – like online safety.

Keeping the conversation going

It might take time for your child to understand fully – and that's OK.

However you choose to start your conversation, try to keep your expectations realistic. It might not go as well as you hope, but give it time.

Your child might not be ready to talk straight away but could restart the conversation with you a few days later.

It's also best to think about having a few bite-sized conversations over a period of time. It gives your child the time to process what you've discussed and stops the whole thing from sounding like a lecture.

Listening is important too

If you're worried or nervous about a conversation, it's easy to forget that it should go two ways.

It's important to show that you’re listening to your child and value what they tell you.

Start by asking questions that have more than yes or no answers. This gives your child the chance to tell you what they think.
Give them as long as they need to answer without interrupting. They may be nervous or still working out what they really think.
Let your child ask you questions, too. Be honest with them about how you feel about certain subjects and talk to them about things that happened to you in the past.
Let them know that they can trust you. Reassure them that you want them to talk to you, other people they trust, or organisations like Childline when anything worries them.

When your child wants to start a difficult conversation

Sometimes, your child might come to you to talk about a concern.

They may want to talk about a friend who's frightened because of bullying. Or it could be about something they've done themselves, like sexting or trying alcohol.

It's probably taken a lot of courage to even mention it to you. So, you need to make them feel as comfortable as possible about continuing the conversation:

If there is a better time or place, agree on when and where you will talk.
Begin by reassuring your child that they can tell you anything they need to, and you won't blame them in any way.
Listen carefully to what they have to say.
If you don't understand, be honest and ask them to explain.
Above all, let them say everything they want to say before you give any opinions or advice.

It's OK to ask your child what they'd like you to do to help them. Remember, though, you might not be able to fix everything. For example, if they're grieving over a death. What you can always do is reassure and support.

If there’s anything you plan to do, let your child know. Otherwise, they may feel like you're going behind their back. This could lead to them being less open in future.

Talking about life-changing topics

Unfortunately, things do happen that can turn young lives upside down.

Talking with your child about separation, illness, death, or other life-changing topics might be emotional and distressing for both of you.

Having difficult conversations is hard, but if handled well, it can bring you and your child closer together:

Before starting the conversation, it can help to think about:

when and where to have the conversation – choose somewhere that will be comfortable for you both
if you have children of different ages, decide whether you speak to them together or separately
who else should you tell before your child so they can be ready to give emotional support
the sorts of questions your child's likely to ask you so you can have the answers ready.

When the time comes to break the news, remember to explain slowly, in words that your child will easily understand. It's also important to make sure they know that they're not responsible or to blame in any way for what you are telling them.

Books to help with your conversations

Books can help you talk to children and young people about sensitive subjects and explore ways to start the conversation.

Our online shop has books on various topics, from gender and sexuality to kindness and mindfulness.

See all books

Support for children and young people

Our Childline website has age-appropriate information about lots of different topics like moving, divorce and when someone dies. These pages can help you decide how to approach a conversation, and can provide support for your child after your chat.

Our Childline counsellors are always here to listen to children if they need someone to talk to - by phone, on chat or by email.

Read advice on handling difficult conversations with adults.

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