Suggestions for Talking to Your Children About the Proposed School Closure

When figuring out how to talk to your children about the proposed school closure, here is a simple set of guidelines and a conversation starter so you can present the information in a clear way that supports your child through this uncertain time. This is based on best practices for sharing difficult information with children from family changes like divorce, illness, death, moving, or financial hardship.

1. Be Honest, but Keep It Simple
Use age-appropriate language: “We got some news today, and we want to talk to you about it.”
Acknowledge uncertainty: “We don’t know exactly what this means yet, but we’ll let you know as we learn more.”

2. Reassure Ongoing Communication
Be transparent: “We’ll keep you informed whenever we know something new.”
Commit to openness: “We won’t keep anything from you about this.”

3. Encourage Questions
Invite them to ask: “You can always ask us anything.”

4. Acknowledge Their Feelings
Validate emotions: “It’s okay to feel confused or scared.”
Create safety: “We’re here to support you.”

5. Reinforce Stability
Offer reassurance: “No matter what happens, we’ll face it together.”

Example Conversation Starter:
“We got some news today. We don’t have all the details, but as soon as we know more, we’ll tell you. We’ll never keep anything from you. You can always ask us questions, and it’s okay to feel a mix of emotions. We’re in this together.”