Moms Talk: After All, This is Their Country, Too

When you have kids, it's easy to forget their minds are working 24/7, just like yours. So what are they thinking and feeling about the chaos at the State Capitol? Or are they thinking about it at all?

What's the best way to talk to your kids about Wisconsin's controversial Budget Repair Bill?

Even though most Muskego kids haven’t missed any classes because of school closings, they’re feeling the heat from Governor Scott Walker’s proposed Budget Repair Bill in other ways. 

“My kids are getting pressure from other kids, and other parents too, to take sides,” said one mom we talked to.  “That can get scary or overwhelming for kids.”

 It’s important to do a little digging and find out how your child feels about things.  Jill Wauer, a Social Studies teacher at Bay Lane Middle School, suggests that parents listen to their child's concerns and make them part of current events to open up opportunities for conversation.

“Try to watch news reports with them, and help them be aware of how our government works,” she said. Kids are part of current events and are surrounded by news Wauer added, so encourage them to be objective and gather as much information as possible.

One mother of three children under the age of 11 says it’s important to keep an open mind. 

"I don’t try to push my view," she said. "They may have a different perspective. “ 

 Two national news services offer topics targeting school aged kids.  One is www.news.nick.com, a service of the Nickelodeon Channel that reports on world issues in a way younger kids can understand.  CNN Student News at www.cnn.com is tailored to students at the high school and college levels. 

Before you visit any news sites, take a few minutes to visit http://www.childrennow.org/index.php/learn/twk_news. Parents will find an article filled with great hands-on tips about how to talk with kids about tough issues in the news.