Tough Situations
Children Now: Tips for talking with kids about tough issues
Topics include Sex & Relationships, Violence, Race, Terrorism, Divorce, and more.
This website covers lots of different weekly themes (Divorce, Pets, Adoption, Feelings, Scary Stuff, Working Parents, School, Food, Nighttime, etc.)
From ParentFurther: "What to do When Bad Things Happen?"
Tips for breaking bad news, dealing with tragedy and death, and learning to bounce back.
PBS Parents Website
Lots of helpful resources to help families with good and bad situations.
National Association for School Psychologist Resources
Iona Community: E-Liturgies and Prayers
Liturgies for difficult situations.
Paediatric Chaplaincy Network
We are a group of multi faith religious and spiritual care staff and volunteers working in hospitals, hospices and the wider community. Includes videos, stories, and worship recommendations.
The Dougy Center
The Dougy Center provides a safe place for children, teens, young adults and their families who are grieving a death to share their experiences through peer support groups, education, and training.
Carenotes: Elf Help Books for Kids and other Elf Help Resources
(For Kids)
Carenotes for Talking with Your Kids (For Parents)
These books and pamphlets provide a wide variety of children's stories and resources to help them, parents, families, and pastors during a difficult situation. Topics include: Death of parent, grandparent, pet, or someone in general; Illnesses, obesity, self-esteem, emotional responses, family changes, bullying, divorce, and more.
The Southwest Key Programs mission is Opening doors to opportunity so individuals can achieve their dreams. A national, nonprofit organization, Southwest Key is committed to keeping kids out of jails and prisons and home with their families, in their communities.
Conscious Discipline has fostered a fundamental shift in thinking that empowers adults and children to be the change they want to see in the world.
Physical Disabilities, Mental Disabilities, & Emotional Struggles
Support and resources for austism, depression, attention disorders, physical disabilities, and more.
Our children are not immune to what is happening in the world and on the news. They also have feelings about disasters and terrible events. Please check out these faithful ways to respond and to have children respond.
Many tough situations stem from serious faith questions and justice needs. Quality stewardship and mission work call us to respond to the tough issues around creating a more just world. There are lots of justice responses that can be found throughout this website. Below are just a few to help families, children, and youth respond.
Disciples Justice for Children
Rev. Kate Epperly blogs here "officially" as Coordinator of Justice and Advocacy for Family and Children's Ministries, Disciples Home Missions, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), but she prefers to describe herself as a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, small church pastor and then, last but NOT least, a "big church" peace and justice activist!
Kids to Kids projects offer hands-on ways for kids to help other kids — here in the U.S. and around the world. Each project is designed around a different theme and includes educational resources, concrete mission ideas, and kid friendly explanations of difficult topics like hunger, poverty, immigration, human trafficking, and others. These projects help kids process stories they may hear in the news and enable them to show God’s love to those in need.
Tihis page will lead you to links on creation care, global and local responses, mission opportunities, and more!
This page was last updated by MI 06/19