Big Conversations with Little Children: Addressing Questions, Worries, and Fears
Be prepared to respond to a wide range of potentially tough questions and sensitive concerns posed by young children.

To work with young children is to constantly expect the unexpected. Tough questions are part of early childhood educators’ regular interactions with children and families. Based on children’s actual questions, Big Conversations with Little Children is readily accessible with guidelines for having difficult conversations with children, individually or as a classroom or group, and with families. The book provides guidance on how to approach specific topics related to:
  • family, such as unemployment, divorce, and incarceration
  • illness and death, such as loss of an unborn child, major illness in a child, and death of a pet
  • social issues, such as racism, family structures, and gender fluidity
  • upheaval and violence, such as natural disaster, terror events, and school shootings
Fully based in developmentally appropriate practice, Big Conversations with Little Children helps educators support young children in a way that preserves their dignity and innocence when they encounter world and social events in addition to honoring the family’s preferred approach. An expert in the field of early childhood education, author Dr. Lauren Starnes empowers educators and families to answer sensitive or tough questions children pose, respond to their worries and concerns, and be prepared for an ongoing dialogue. Digital content includes family take-home information sheets for each topic.
 
1139857898
Big Conversations with Little Children: Addressing Questions, Worries, and Fears
Be prepared to respond to a wide range of potentially tough questions and sensitive concerns posed by young children.

To work with young children is to constantly expect the unexpected. Tough questions are part of early childhood educators’ regular interactions with children and families. Based on children’s actual questions, Big Conversations with Little Children is readily accessible with guidelines for having difficult conversations with children, individually or as a classroom or group, and with families. The book provides guidance on how to approach specific topics related to:
  • family, such as unemployment, divorce, and incarceration
  • illness and death, such as loss of an unborn child, major illness in a child, and death of a pet
  • social issues, such as racism, family structures, and gender fluidity
  • upheaval and violence, such as natural disaster, terror events, and school shootings
Fully based in developmentally appropriate practice, Big Conversations with Little Children helps educators support young children in a way that preserves their dignity and innocence when they encounter world and social events in addition to honoring the family’s preferred approach. An expert in the field of early childhood education, author Dr. Lauren Starnes empowers educators and families to answer sensitive or tough questions children pose, respond to their worries and concerns, and be prepared for an ongoing dialogue. Digital content includes family take-home information sheets for each topic.
 
34.99 In Stock
Big Conversations with Little Children: Addressing Questions, Worries, and Fears

Big Conversations with Little Children: Addressing Questions, Worries, and Fears

by Lauren Starnes
Big Conversations with Little Children: Addressing Questions, Worries, and Fears

Big Conversations with Little Children: Addressing Questions, Worries, and Fears

by Lauren Starnes

Overview

Be prepared to respond to a wide range of potentially tough questions and sensitive concerns posed by young children.

To work with young children is to constantly expect the unexpected. Tough questions are part of early childhood educators’ regular interactions with children and families. Based on children’s actual questions, Big Conversations with Little Children is readily accessible with guidelines for having difficult conversations with children, individually or as a classroom or group, and with families. The book provides guidance on how to approach specific topics related to:
  • family, such as unemployment, divorce, and incarceration
  • illness and death, such as loss of an unborn child, major illness in a child, and death of a pet
  • social issues, such as racism, family structures, and gender fluidity
  • upheaval and violence, such as natural disaster, terror events, and school shootings
Fully based in developmentally appropriate practice, Big Conversations with Little Children helps educators support young children in a way that preserves their dignity and innocence when they encounter world and social events in addition to honoring the family’s preferred approach. An expert in the field of early childhood education, author Dr. Lauren Starnes empowers educators and families to answer sensitive or tough questions children pose, respond to their worries and concerns, and be prepared for an ongoing dialogue. Digital content includes family take-home information sheets for each topic.
 

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781631986345
Publisher: Free Spirit Publishing
Publication date: 04/15/2022
Series: Free Spirit Professional®
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 228
File size: 11 MB
Note: This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range: 4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Early childhood education expert Dr. Lauren Starnes has completed doctoral studies in both child development and educational leadership.

She currently holds the position of Chief Academic Officer of Goddard Schools, where she is responsible for the development, implementation, and evaluation of the curriculum, educational programming, assessment, and accreditation achievement for the nearly 600 Goddard Schools across the US. Previously, she was the vice president of early childhood education for Primrose School Franchising Company, where she supported curriculum development, implementation, and evaluation. She also served as the company’s executive director of professional development, leading and facilitating instructor-led and eLearning professional development for all stakeholders in the over 420 Primrose Schools. Prior to that she led the early childhood education department for a private education company, authoring their proprietary early childhood curriculum and leading professional development creation and delivery.

Lauren has worked at every level of early childhood education. While she began her formal career teaching at the university level, she has prior experience teaching within preschools, consulting and serving as a support professional for children with autism, and serving as an embedded instructional coach for preschool teachers. She has worked as a school principal for multiple schools and remains actively involved as a voice for early childhood education in various professional associations.

When not working, Lauren enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and cheering on her two sons in sports. She lives in Marietta, Georgia, near Atlanta.


Table of Contents

List of Printable Pages for Families vii

Introduction 1

Building and Nurturing Trust 1

Preparing for Your Role 3

About This Book 5

Part I Preparing for Difficult Conversations 9

Partnering with Families About Communicating with Children 11

General Family Check-In Questions 11

Framework for Parent Conversation Starters 12

Next Steps: Taking the Conversation Further 12

Rules of Thumb for Difficult Conversations 13

Other important Considerations in Preparing for Big Conversations 17

The Child's Developmental Level 17

Maintaining Confidentiality and Honoring Privacy 18

Family Considerations 20

Part II Conversation Topics 23

Big Conversations About Family issues 25

Unemployment 26

Substance Abuse and Addiction 34

Separation and Divorce 43

Military Deployment 51

Incarceration 58

Big Conversation About Illness and Death 65

Major Illness of an Adult 67

Major Illness and Medical Conditions in Children 75

Miscarriage 84

Death of a Pet 91

Death of a Family Member 99

Death of a Friend or Classmate 107

Death of a Teacher or Caregiver 116

Big Conversations About Social Issues 125

Race and Culture 127

Hunger and Food Insecurity 138

Physical and Cognitive Differences 146

Family Structure 155

Sex and Sexuality 164

Gender 173

Big Conversations About Upheaval and Violence 181

Natural Disaster 183

Social Upheaval 192

Gun Violence and Terror Events 200

References 210

Index 214

About the Author 219

List of Printable Pages for Families

See page 218 for instructions for downloading digital versions of these family take-home pages.

Talking with Your Child About…

Unemployment 30

Substance Abuse or Addiction in the Family 39

Separation and Divorce 46

Military Deployment 54

Incarceration 61

An Adult's Illness 70

A Major Childhood Illness or Medical Condition 78

A Miscarriage 87

The Death of a Pet 94

The Death of a Family Member 102

The Death of a Friend or Classmate 111

The Death of a Teacher or Caregiver 120

Race and Culture 132

Hunger and Food Insecurity 142

Physical and Cognitive Differences 151

Differing Family Structures 159

Sex and Sexuality 168

Gender 177

A Natural Disaster 187

Social Upheaval 196

Gun Violence and Terror Events 204

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