1. The Talking with Kids Web Site Gets a New Look [return to top]

The Talking with Kids About Tough Issues Web site has been completely redesigned. We have given the site a fresh new look and think you'll find the new site easier to navigate and more user-friendly.

The Talking with Kids Web site has received nearly 1,000,000 visits since the launch of the campaign in 1998, and we know that more than 11,600 email subscribers are utilizing this valuable resource to help initiate tough conversations with their kids. We're proud of the new design elements, and invite you to come back and browse around for new ways to talk with your kids about tough issues--and please tell a friend!

View The New Talking With Kids About Tough Issues Web Site At:
* http://www.talkingwithkids.org

2. Summer Provides Natural Opportunities To Talk With Your Kids
[return to top]

Every year around this time, summer safety stories appear on TV and in newspapers. Parents are reminded to stock up on sunscreen and mosquito repellent, to check that their children’s bike helmets fit properly, and to replace the batteries in the smoke detector. What often gets overlooked is this basic and practical message: Summer is also a good time to talk with your kids about some of the other challenges they may face while school is out, like alcohol, drugs, sex, and violence. We don't immediately associate these dangers with summer. But they are risks that kids encounter more frequently when they have free and unsupervised time. So as you make sure that your children are ready for the pool and the park, take the opportunity to talk with them about other risks too.

For Free Summer Talk Tips, Please Visit:
* http://www.talkingwithkids.org/summertip.htm

3. Why It's Important To Talk With Kids About The News [return to top]

Why is it important to talk with your kids about what they see on the news? As adults, we have come to depend on "The News" as our primary source for information about the world we live in. Whether it's the local newspaper, nightly TV newscasts, cable news networks, news radio, or Web sites, graphic footage and accounts of the latest happenings in the world are being delivered right into our homes 24 hours a day. This constant barrage can be overwhelming for adults, but it can be especially confusing and frightening for young children.

Many adults do not realize how many kids actually watch TV news or read the newspaper. In addition, consider the opportunities kids have to be exposed to the news. Maybe you listen to news radio in the morning while you drive the kids to school. Perhaps you read the newspaper at the breakfast table. Remember, while you're reading an article on page seven, your kids may be staring at the front page headlines. You might watch the evening news while helping your kids with their homework. Or they may be exposed to a "newsflash" during their favorite sit-com. Even if you avoid exposing your kids to the news, they still get the latest news accounts from their peers.

For Other Specific Tips On Talking with Kids About The News, Please Visit:
* http://www.talkingwithkids.org/television/twk-news.html

4. Talking with Kids Tip Of The Month: "Be Patient" [return to top]

Often it can feel like forever before a youngster gets his story out. As adults, we're tempted to finish the child's sentence for him, filling in words and phrases in an effort to hear the point sooner. Try to resist this impulse. By listening patiently, we allow our children to think at their own pace and we are letting them know that they are worthy of our time.

For Nine Other Helpful Tips On Talking With Kids, Please Visit:
* http://www.talkingwithkids.org/first.html

Also...View Our Talking with Kids / Nickelodeon TV-PSA About Teasing at:
* http://www.talkingwithkids.org/video/nick-discrimination.ram

If You Cannot View The Above Video PSA, Download RealPlayer Free At:
* http://www.real.com/player/index.html?src=downloadr

Return to the Top