Tools for Family Conversations
Gun violence resources
- American Psychology Association: "Talking to Kids About School Shootings (PDF)"
- Anti-Defamation League: Helping Students Make Sense of News Stories About Bias and Injustice
- Anti-Defamation League: Gun Violence and Mass Shootings
- National Association of School Psychologists: Talking to Children About Violence
- National Child Traumatic Stress Network: "Talking to Children About Shootings (PDF)"
- National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement: "Talking to Kids About School Tragedies"
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: "Tips for Helping Children and Youth Cope with a Traumatic Event"
We know it can be hard to know what to say to your children about bias, bigotry, and violence. We hope the following resources can help get you started.
The Anti-Defamation League has provided numerous resources to support families in their efforts to discuss difficult topics, including:
- Table Talk: Family Conversations about Current Events (These guides for discussing specific current events with children include a topic summary, questions to start the conversation and dig deeper, ideas for taking action, and additional resources. Each guide also includes a recommended age range.)
- Empowering Young People in the Aftermath of Hate
- 5 tips for Talking with Children about Hate Incidents (shortened version of Empowering Young People)
For tips on talking to students about specific issues and movements, we recommend the resources on this page
Students in California learn about the Holocaust and other genocides in 10th grade. AUSD high schools often try to bring Holocaust survivors in to speak to students, but it isn't always possible. Families who would like their students to read or listen to the stories of Holocaust survivors can find testimonies on the following websites:
- Holocaust Learning: "Survivor Stories"
- Holocaust Survivors
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum: "Behind Every Name a Story"
- Holocaust Center for Humanity: Survivor Stories
- Shoah Foundation (USC): Testimonies
- Islamphobia and Being an Ally (Table Talk parent/family discussion guide)
- Anti-Muslim Bigotry and Being an Ally (lesson plan)
- Education Resources on Refugees, Muslim People and Anti-Muslim Bigotry (collection of lesson plans, Table Talks, teaching tools, children’s books, etc.)
- Helping Students Make Sense of News Stories about Bias and Injustice (teaching tool)
anti-asian bias resources
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Massachusetts Asian American Commission: “Anti-Asian Hate Resources”
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National Asian Pacific American Bar Association: “Hate Crimes Task Force and Pro Bono Legal Resources”
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National Geographic: “Talking to Kids about Xenophobia”
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Immigrant History Initiative: “Talking to Kids about Asian American Identity and Racism”
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Asian American Psychological Association: Bullying Awareness Campaign
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Asian American Psychological Association: COVID-19 Resources
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Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP): Letter to the Editor with Native Americans in Philanthropy directing philanthropy to act in support of their invisible communities.
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AAPIP: Supporting API Communities Resource Directory from
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Asian Americans Advancing Justice: Coronavirus/COVID-19 Resources to Stand Against Racism
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Asian Women Giving Circle: "The Root Cause of Anti-Asian Racist Violence" (extensive list of podcasts, articles, bystander intervention trainings, mental health resources for AAPI folks, and more.
anti-racism resources
- Anti-Defamation League: George Floyd, Racism, and Law Enforcement
- CNN: "How to Talk to Your Children About Protests and Racism"
- National Equity Project: "Black Lives Matter Instructional Library" (picture books read aloud)
- Penn Graduate School of Education: "Talking to Children after Racial Incidents"
