"In our complicated world, big issues make both parents and children anxious. So how should parents talk to their kids about the things that make both parent and child on edge - from family financial issues to school shootings to global warming? Here, an expert child psychologist offers parents scripts for conversations that will help us raise kids who are informed, engaged, and confident."-- Publisher's description.

"Includes how to talk to your kids about COVID-19" -- Cover.

Introduction: Trampolines -- The age of anxiety. Parents matter now more than ever ; What bad news does to (us) parents ; Nature, nurture, and the parent-child dance -- Understanding emotions. Teaching children about emotions ; Help kids respond to big emotions ; Coaching emotions -- Essential conversations. How do I talk with my child? Conversations about violence ; Conversations about natural disasters and climate change ; Conversations about the perils of technology ; Conversations about social justice ; Conversations about our divided society -- Epilogue: "Take ten" to help children grow into confident, compassionate, and civil adults -- Bonus conversations. Feeling scared during the COVID-19/Coronavirus pandemic ; When a parent deploys.