How to Talk to Your Child About What’s Happening in L.A.
For Every Parent Who’s Struggling to Explain the World Right Now
Right now, the streets of Los Angeles are flooded with fear, confusion, and unrest.
Many of our children are watching.
Some from sidewalks.
Some from phone screens.
Some from behind closed blinds, wondering if they’re still safe.
As a psychologist, educator, and spiritual mentor, I’ve walked parents through many difficult moments. But what’s happening in LA right now, with protests, armed presence, and visible tension - this requires us to pause, center, and respond with care.
This post will help you understand how to talk to your child about what’s unfolding in the city, with words that protect their emotional and spiritual well-being, no matter their age.
First, Pause and Regulate Yourself
Before you speak to your child, take a breath. Your energy becomes their baseline. If you are afraid, rushed, or reactive, that fear becomes contagious.
Try this first:
Place a hand on your heart.
Whisper, “My child doesn’t need me to be perfect. Just present.”
Take 3 slow breaths.
Then move to the next step.
Next, Understand What They Need to Know
Before you speak, take a moment to ask yourself:
“What does my child need right now: an explanation, reassurance, connection - or a place to express their own voice?”
Kids process fear and chaos differently based on age and exposure. Let’s break it down:
Start with Your Child’s Reality
Children process the world in terms of what they see, what they feel, and what they fear. Your job is to anchor them in truth, safety, and emotional honesty.
If your child is: hearing or seeing helicopters, marches, sirens
They are witnessing the protests directly, and you can start the conversation with:
“There are people outside right now who are gathering because something unfair happened. They’re trying to make it better. That’s what protests are for. Groups of people protect when they want to speak up and be heard about something they believe is unfair and they want to make it better. You are safe in here. You’re allowed to feel anything you feel.”
Leave space in the conversation to let them share their feelings.
Then continue the conversation with:
“What questions do you have? I’m here to help explain anything you want to know. There’s nothing too big for us to talk about together.”
If your child is seeing it on the news or hearing adults whispering
They are indirectly witnessing the protests, and you can start the conversation with:
“You might be hearing grown-ups talk about some scary things right now. What questions do you have? I’m here to help explain anything you want to know. There’s nothing too big for us to talk about together.”
For Children Who Feel Afraid
Children often feel afraid not because they understand what’s happening, but because they can feel your fear, the tension in the air, or the change in routine.
Share this with you child when you feel they need to hear it:
“A lot of big things are happening right now, but you are safe with me. Our job is to love each other and keep each other safe, no matter what. It’s okay to feel scared sometimes. Feelings are part of being human.”
You can also add:
“Even when the world feels loud or unfair, our home is a place where love is louder.”
What to Say When You Don’t Know What to Say
Sometimes, the best thing to say is simply:
“I don’t have all the answers. But I promise I will always tell you the truth, and I will never stop protecting you.”
That sentence builds trust for life.
Remember Explain In Simple, Honest Language
Children are incredibly intuitive. If you don’t explain, they will create their own (often scarier) story. Here’s how to simplify truth without overwhelming them:
“Sometimes people in power make choices that hurt others. When that happens, people come together to say, ‘This isn’t okay. We want change.’ That’s part of how the world becomes better.”
For Parents Who Are Spiritually Led
Speak to your child’s soul.
“Every soul is here to learn love and fairness. When things go wrong, it’s our job to help heal them.”
“Even when people are loud or angry outside, we can be light in the world. We can be kind. We can pray for peace. And we can grow into people who make the world better.”
Let them color a peace sign. Leave a note for a neighbor. Say a blessing at bedtime for the children in the world who don’t feel safe tonight.
Let them know that even small love is real power.
Next, Create Rituals for Emotional Safety
Kids need to know what to expect when the outside world feels uncertain. Try:
Lighting a candle each night and letting them share one feeling from the day.
Drawing or journal together: “If your feelings had a color today, what color would they be?”
Saying aloud: “I am safe. I am loved. I am light.”
For Families Facing Fear of Deportation
If you are a parent raising a child who is afraid, afraid their family could be separated, afraid they may be forced to leave their home, or that someone they love could disappear - please know this:
Your fear is real. And your child feels it too, even if they can’t always put it into words.
Children don’t need every detail to sense when something is wrong. They notice the hushed tones, the long silences, the tension in your shoulders. And when the fear in their home is about safety, identity, and belonging, it can feel like the ground beneath them is cracking.
What your child needs from you right now is gentle truth and deep reassurance.
You can say something like:
"Right now, there are a lot of decisions being made that can feel confusing and scary. But here’s what you need to know: You are loved. You belong. And I will do everything I can to protect you."
"It’s okay to feel scared. It’s okay to ask questions. And no matter what, we are in this together."
For younger children, you can use simpler words:
"Some people are trying to make rules that don’t always feel fair. Remember, you are loved. You belong. And I will do everything I can to protect you."
"It’s okay to feel scared. It’s okay to ask questions. And no matter what, we are in this together."
What You Can Do to Spiritually Support Your Child
Create a Safety Ritual: Light a small candle together each evening. Call it the "Light of Protection." Let them make a wish, or say a prayer. This small ritual becomes a symbol of comfort and control.
Name Their Angel or Protector: Let your child draw or imagine an angel who stays with them. Give this being a name. “This is Luna. She watches over you at school.” Or, “This is Miguel. He’s your strength when you feel small.”
Build Community Through Story: Share books, folktales, or family stories of resilience. Remind them of their lineage, their power, and their purpose.
Final Thoughts
You don’t have to explain everything perfectly.
You only have to show up with love, truth, and presence.
Your child doesn’t need the world to be calm.
They just need you to be the calm inside it.
You are doing a better job than you think.
With light and deep peace,
Zena
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