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Important Tips for Helping Hurting Kids

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 - 10:45 AM CST

Childhood just isn’t what it used to be. In an age where our children face increasingly adult pressures at an earlier and earlier age, the right person, word, and/or action can play a pivotal role in a child’s life. Here’s some tips to pass on to your children’s staff for when a child in their care comes to them with concerns or questions.

Be honest in your answers and who you are. Children easily identify phoniness. Don’t insult them by trivializing their concerns or giving pat answers.

Don’t pry. Win the right to be heard. If you see or feel that something is truly wrong, encourage the child to talk to an adult they do trust.

Listen, don’t lecture. Most kids want to express themselves, but won’t do that until they trust you. And they won’t trust you unless they believe you care and have proved it by listening to them.

Keep confidences. Their secrets are a gift to you; treat them as such unless, of course, doing so endangers the child or someone else.

Provide a safe place. Give the child space he needs to be alone while still offering him the security and comfort of a safe environment … and knowledge that you’ll be there when he is ready to talk.

And don’t forget! While our instinct may be to fix the problem, our role is usually to help kids in their growing process. So we must teach and show that there is One who cares for them more than they can ever imagine.

©2006 Gospel Publishing House. Permission to duplicate for local church use only.