Holding the Light While Naming The Dark | CP243

Holding the Light While Naming The Dark | CP243

From Connected Parenting by Jennifer Kolari

March 6, 2026 · 17 min

About this episode

Jennifer Kolari discusses how parents can emotionally support their children in the face of disturbing news.

This episode is one of the most difficult Jennifer has ever recorded. Like many parents, she is feeling the weight of the news cycle and the stories involving children that can shake our sense of safety and stability. When events like this appear in the headlines, it can leave parents asking the same painful questions: How do I talk to my child about this? What if they’ve already heard about it? How do I keep them informed without frightening them? This episode is not about fear, sensationalizing tragedy, or overwhelming children with information. Instead, Jennifer focuses on practical ways parents can support their children emotionally when disturbing news enters their world. Jennifer's Takeaways: Overview of the Connected Parents Project (01:07) Challenges of Modern Dating for Parents (03:42) Navigating Relationship Stages and Labels (06:33) Building Connection and Trust in Parenting (16:03) Addressing Digital Influences and Technology (30:34) Teaching Relationship Skills to Children (30:46) Balancing Privacy and Secrecy in Parenting (46:00) Supporting Boys and Healthy Masculinity (47:07) Meet Jennifer Kolari Jennifer Kolari is the host of the “Connected Parenting” weekly…

People in this episode

Host: Jennifer Kolari

Topics covered

  • parenting
  • emotional support
  • children's safety
  • communication
  • modern challenges

Keywords

  • parenting advice
  • children's news
  • emotional support
  • safety
  • communication strategies

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