Big Conversations with Young Children: Discussing Questions, Worries, and Fears

Presented by Dr. Lauren Starnes, Vice President of Early Childhood Education, Primrose Schools

Sponsored by Free Spirit Publishing

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In working with young children, we inevitably encounter unexpected—and hard-to-answer—questions. This edWebinar addresses the big adult questions children often ask, questions that may cause us to pause, silence the child, or deflect the concern. The session guides you to be prepared to answer difficult questions respectfully and in ways that are developmentally appropriate with even the youngest children. We explore how to respond to big topics such as miscarriage, domestic terror events, the death of a classmate, and other equally sensitive or unsettling issues. During the edWebinar we:

• Investigate the tendency to silence children’s questions about difficult topics
• Discuss appropriate ways for classroom teachers to address unexpected questions honestly and simply and to provide emotional support
• Consider how to communicate with parents about a sensitive conversation with a child
• Practice how to structure this type of conversation with a young child
• Model this approach with authentic questions and responses young children may pose on a range of challenging topics

Viewers come away from this presentation with strategies to guide them the moment a question is raised and in following up with children and families.

This recorded edWebinar benefits teachers, school leaders, and other professionals who work with children in preschool to third grade.

About the Presenter

Early childhood education expert Dr. Lauren Starnes has completed doctoral studies in both child development and educational leadership. She currently holds the position of Vice President of Early Childhood Education for Primrose School Franchising Company, where she supports curriculum development, implementation, and evaluation. Previously, she served as the company’s executive director of professional development, leading and facilitating instructor-led and eLearning professional development for all stakeholders in the over 420 Primrose Schools. Prior to that, she led the early childhood education department for a private education company, authoring their proprietary early childhood curriculum and leading professional development creation and delivery. Dr. Starnes has worked at every level of early childhood education. She has worked as a school principal for multiple schools and remains actively involved as a voice for early childhood education in various professional associations. She lives in Marietta, Georgia, near Atlanta.

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