Teaching Kids What to Do with Hurt

Teaching Kids What to Do with Hurt

From aParently! A Podcast for Parents by Shawn Hopkins

June 8, 2026 · 20 min · Season 4 · Episode 3

About this episode

Shawn discusses how to help children cope with emotional pain and the importance of being present for them.

What do we teach our kids to do when they're hurt? Drawing from his own experiences as a foster and adoptive parent, Shawn shares stories about bedtime conversations, unanswered questions, childhood hurts that linger, and the delicate balance between respecting a child's pace and helping them learn they don't have to carry pain alone. This isn't an episode with easy answers. It's an honest conversation about preparing the space, keeping the invitation open, and showing up again and again—even when the answer is "nothing." If you're raising kids whose stories began before you showed up, this episode is for you. You're doing better than you think you are. Take Good Care, Shawn #FosterCare #Adoption #FosterParenting #AdoptiveParenting #TraumaInformedParenting #ParentingThroughTrauma #RaisingKidsThroughHurt #aParentlyPodcast #ParentingPodcast #Attachment #Healing #ParentSupport

People in this episode

Host: Shawn Hopkins

Topics covered

  • parenting
  • childhood trauma
  • foster care
  • adoption
  • emotional support
  • healing

Keywords

  • hurt
  • foster parenting
  • adoptive parenting
  • trauma-informed parenting
  • raising kids
  • bedtime conversations
  • emotional pain
  • support

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