Tip one:
Start talking to your child at an early age. The reason for this is that our children are hearing about tough issues at an early age, usually before they are able to understand all of the aspects of the complicated issues. By talking to our children early on, we will be able to express our feelings to our children and help them understand the issues in a way that makes sense for their age. Talking to them early allows you to give them the correct information, if you wait until later they might turn to their friends were they can get incorrect information.

Tip two:
Every parent thinks that their child is going to come to them with all the questions that they might have, which is usually what happens when our children are very young. However, the older the child gets the less likely that is going to happen because they will have friends that they can go to with these concerns and questions. One thing that we can do to try to get our child to ask us the questions that they have is to start the conversation with them ourselves. This way you can talk to your child about serious issues and find out about how they feel and let them know how you feel.

Tip three:
No matter what you are talking to your child about you are going to want to use simple and short words that they can understand. You are also going to want to give them straightforward explanations, no beating around the bush trying to sugar coat things. What kinds of words and explanations that you are going to use are going to depend on how old your child is. For example, you are not going to want to use terms like transfusion or transmission with a 6-year-old child.

Tip four:
If you have more than one child and their ages are spaced apart, you are going to want to talk to them separately about issues if you can. In doing this you will ensure that, you are using the appropriate language for the younger children and not making the older children feel silly because of the words that you are using. When talking about serious issues you want to do so in a serious manner, no joking or giggling because than your children might not take it seriously. In addition, not all children are going to need to have the same type of information, the older children will need more detailed information, where as young children can just use the basic information.

Tip five:
You want to create an open environment for your children. Kids will want to come to their parents for answers, but in order for them to approach you with the questions you have to let them know it is okay to come to you with questions. The only way that you can do that is to create an open and honest environment for your child. If your child asks you questions, no matter how busy you are or how awkward the question is stop what you are doing and answers the question. If you don't know, the answers tell them you don't know, but that the two of you can go and find out by looking it up.