In a recent news release the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) addresses the current movement that is happening to challenge injustices and discrimination faced by the Black community. In the statement, AAP President Sally Goza, MD, FAAP says there is “a growing body of research,” on the notion that racism is harmful to children’s health and, “…we cannot ignore the impact.” Children are receptive of their environment and may hear and see things that they don’t fully understand. They may have questions about the images and videos that are circulating and as a parent you want to be equipped to have a meaningful and informative conversation with your child, taking into consideration their age and what they can process.

Dr. Heard-Garris and Jacqueline Dougé, MD, MPH, FAAP have multiple recommendations on how parents can engage their child, especially during this pivotal time. They recommend checking in with your child about what they have seen or heard and validating their feelings. Watching for changes in their behavior is another way to support them during this time, particularly if they seem anxious, aggressive, or withdrawn. If you’re concerned, you can reach out to your pediatrician or a mental health provider. Place limits and supervise exposure to media – this is an important way to filter the amount and types of news your child is viewing. Check in with your own emotions and ask for support if you need it. Keep in mind there is no perfect way to have these conversations. There are resources available to provide guidance on how to find the “right” words to share with your child, including this article by HealthyChildren.org. To read the full AAP statement, click here.
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At VIP our hearts are with the Black community now and always. We stand for racial justice, equality and better childhood outcomes for future generations. We encourage parents to have these important conversations with their children, as they are never too young to learn about race. Books are a great place to start the dialogue and education about race with little ones. The future of our children starts at home.

​Video Interaction Project was recently mentioned in a Washington Post article written by VIP Co-Founder, Dr. Benard Dreyer and Professor of Pediatrics of NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Dr. Leonardo Trasande.

The article discusses ways the COVID-19 situation could have a lasting impact on children and what we can do now to support them during this stressful time to mitigate those impacts. Due to the current unfolding events children are more at risk for experiencing consequences later in life that include mental and physical illness. Research has shown that children are impacted by their parents’ stress and there is no doubt that the coronavirus has exacerbated household stressors. The strong emotions that are being felt by families experiencing hardship and loss have an effect on children, despite not being directly impacted by the virus.

The additional stress that has been felt across neighborhoods, states, and nations requires more support for families and children. The article describes the work that is done by VIP and how the use of video recordings and developmentally appropriate toys can support parents in engaging with their child in meaningful ways. These parent-child interactions can mitigate the difficult experiences families are otherwise facing. Programs like VIP provide parents with an opportunity to increase their parenting confidence and lower instances of parenting stress. When parents share quality interactions with their children, they are ultimately strengthening their child’s early development.

Parents can do their part at home to protect their children from additional stress during this time by being mindful of the topics of conversation children are witness to, keeping an open dialogue with their children, and creating a safe space for children to express themselves.

​At VIP we continue to work to provide compassionate support to the families we work with and provide them with the tools necessary to positively engage with their children.

To read the full article: click here.