BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – From dinner table discussions to bedtime worries, when the news is filled with stressful situations, it can impact the emotional and physical health of young people and families. University of Illinois Extension shares resources and practical tips to navigate the media landscape and help build youth who are resilient and beyond ready for life’s challenges.
“The news and current events can be extremely stressful for young people and their families,” said Emilia Elabed, 4-H youth development educator with Illinois Extension. “Coverage of violent events, extreme weather, charged political commentary, and everything in between is scary. Young people often don’t know who to turn to as they process the complex emotions that they’re feeling. These are the moments when it’s especially important to talk with the kids we are closest to.”
To help parents and caregivers start these conversations, Illinois Extension provides age-appropriate strategies for discussing difficult topics, recognizing signs of stress in youth, and creating safe spaces for emotional expression.
“Youth are hearing and seeing so much, and they may not always know how to process their feelings. We need to remind them that their emotions are valid,” said Elabed. “It’s okay to feel sad, angry, worried, or even confused. Those conversations help kids feel supported and safe, even when the world around them feels uncertain.”
Resources to navigate the headlines:
- The University of Illinois Extension’s Terrific Teachable Moments app gives parents resources to help with social and emotional learning. The app includes more than 150 activity-based mini-lessons, and each can be completed in under 10 minutes.
- Read resources from Extension on stress, including helping kids cope with stress and helping teens cope with stress.
- Explore resources on building reliance in youth. Resilience is how people deal with difficult situations – resources from Extension help parents. Read other resources for communicating with children during stressful times, and general resources on foundational parenting, including resources on dealing with disappointments, balance, and more.
- Learn how to navigate charged conversations, such as politics and the news, which can lead to conflict. Illinois Extension provides tools for reducing family tension and building social awareness in young people.
- During stressful times, parents may neglect other relationships, like their relationship with each other. Strong Couples, a partnership between Illinois Extension and the University of Illinois, offers free, evidence-based online support for couples, including one-on-one coaching from trained professionals.
While these are just a few resources to assist parents, Elabed says the important point is to just have the discussion, no matter how hard:
“It can be easy to avoid difficult conversations, especially when we don’t know how to talk about things we ourselves may not understand, like violence or other tough headlines. Young people hear about these topics from a variety of places. It’s important to just sit and help them process these emotions and allow them to feel their feelings, even if we don’t have all the answers.”
Illinois Extension administers the 4-H program in Illinois, the state's largest out of school youth program. 4-H youth are beyond ready for the future and learn life skills and explore potential careers. For more information about 4-H program locally, visit 4h.extension.illinois.edu.
Writer: Anthony Warmack, Communications Coordinator, University of Illinois Extension
Source: Emilia Elabed, 4-H Youth Development Educator, University of Illinois Extension
Media Access: Artwork can be downloaded for media use. For press inquiries, contact Anthony Warmack, warmacka@illinois.edu, 217-244-5813. Want to keep in touch with news from Illinois Extension? Sign up for press updates.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 700 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through six program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, family and consumer science, integrated health disparities, and natural resources, environment, and energy.
About Illinois 4-H: Illinois 4-H is the flagship youth development program of University of Illinois Extension and administered through the College of Agriculture, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences. 4-H grows true leaders, youth who are empowered for life today and prepared for a career tomorrow. The hands-on approach in 4-H gives young people guidance, tools, and encouragement, and then puts them in the driver’s seat to make great things happen. Independent research confirms the unparalleled impact of the 4-H experience, demonstrating that young people are four times more likely to contribute to their communities; two times more likely to make healthier choices; two times more likely to be civically active; and two times more likely to participate in STEM programs.