Politics and Parenting

Politics and Parenting

With the election just weeks away, political division and rhetoric are ramping up—and kids may be feeling the impact. From differing opinions among family and friends to the heated conversations kids overhear and the surge of negative ads and social media posts, it’s nearly impossible for them to avoid the political noise.

To help parents navigate these challenging times, Rebecca Hoffmann, a longtime family therapist and the Director of MaineHealth’s Center for Trauma, Resilience, and Innovation, shares strategies for guiding children through emotional conversations while building essential life skills.

Hoffmann shares why it is important to shift the conversations at home from a specific candidate to family values and how that leads to who you may be supporting in an election. She also talks about deciphering sources to navigate fact from fiction, plus the importance of setting boundaries when it comes to disagreements online or with family and friends.

As election season intensifies, these strategies offer parents a guide to supporting their children through the political noise.

About our guest:

Rebecca Hoffmann is the Director of the MaineHealth Center for Trauma, Resilience, and Innovation and is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Tufts University School of Medicine. By training, Rebecca is a family therapist and has worked clinically for 25 years with children, families and communities.

Rebecca’s primary work is in the fields of trauma, violence, resilience, and wellbeing. She has overseen large federally funded behavioral health research and service grants that focus on providing care and treatment for children and families that have been exposed to trauma. These programs focus on prevention of childhood exposure to violence, implementation of evidence-based trauma treatment, and fostering professional resiliency. In addition, Rebecca has overseen programs in disaster mental health, and in helping communities heal after trauma. Rebecca has extensive training and practice in the fields of childhood trauma, wellbeing and resilience, community coalition building, and collective healing. She has published numerous articles, book chapters, and other resources in this field.

Additional Information:

Helping Young Children Navigate Political Anxiety (https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/screen-time/202409/helping-young-children-navigate-election-anxiety)

Seven Tips for Talking with Kids about Politics (https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/seven_tips_for_talking_with_kids_about_politics)

How Politics can Impact Your Kids and How to Help (https://hopkinsallchildrens.childrensmiraclenetworkhospitals.org/how-politics-can-impact-your-kids-and-how-to-help/)

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