The Peaceful Parenting Podcast · Sarah Rosensweet

Talking with Kids about Global Crisis with Desireé B. Stephens: Episode 205

·49 min

Sarah Rosenzweig interviews Desiree B. Stevens, a trauma-informed educator specializing in decolonization and somatic practice. Core premise: 'The world is burning and our children are absorbing the smoke.' How do conscious parents talk to kids about war, genocide, climate collapse without either insulating them (impossible in social media age) or traumatizing them? Desiree introduces 10 conscious steps, starting with consent-based conversation ('Would you like to talk about this?') and asking what children already know rather than assuming. Key principle: name reality plainly without gory details ('Some leaders are hurting people and some are standing up to stop it'). Desiree emphasizes somatic awareness—helping children notice where emotions show up in bodies. She introduces 'rest, reset, resist' framework addressing activist burnout, arguing rest and joy are acts of resistance. She cautions against constant crisis mode and emphasizes determining personal capacity for sustainable activism. Social justice becomes integrated into parenting practice through everyday moments (regulating play-fighting as teaching consent). The episode situates parenting within larger decolonization work spanning thousands of years.

As heard by us

A practical guide for parents talking with children about global crisis without overwhelming them.

The episode frames a useful way for parents to talk with children about global crisis without pushing them past what they can handle. It points to small, workable choices such as writing letters, sending emails, or talking things through, which can make the subject feel less…

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Why you'd press play

When global crisis comes up, you get a steadier way to talk with your kids.

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