How to talk to our kids about ICE and prepare our families

A list of resources for parents

This post is available to everyone. Please share widely.

It’s been another heavy week, and several readers responded to my last newsletter about being a parent in this moment as the Trump Regime seems to wage war on families at every opportunity. I’d spoken with several parents about the presence of ICE in our communities have impacted their school and daycare communities, and since publishing, I’ve heard even more examples from readers.

Here in Seattle, six schools went into shelter-in-place due to rumored ICE activity, and the newly appointed superintendent addressed parent and community concerns the next evening at a board meeting. Because of this, the volume of conversations parents are now having with one another and the schools about ICE has increased tenfold. This, of course, in addition to the grim news from Minneapolis, where ICE kidnapped 4 children, including a 5-year-old preschooler used as bait to capture members of his family.

I’ve spent a lot of time and effort this week thinking through how to talk to my kids about ICE and what’s happening around them. To help my husband and me do this, I’ve read through and gathered resources from various organizations I trust. Since I know many of you are parents and caregivers, I wanted to share with you as well. Here’s a short list:

What To Say To Your Kids About Ice (Children’s Network) The most comprehensive guide I’ve found, available in English and Spanish. Includes scripts for different ages, and a printable card you can give your kids to help ensure they know their rights. There’s also a guide for older children who are worried about ICE and want to learn more.

Ten Expert Tips For Talking To Kids About ICE Terrorizing Their Friends and Family (L.A. Taco) This article resonated with me more than any other resource. Probably because it feels so grounded in a community and this moment. It’s concise, helpful for families directly and indirectly impacted, and as an added bonus, the tips are written in both English and Spanish.

Talking to Kids About ICE and Immigration (Los Angeles County Perinatal and Early Childhood Home Visitation Consortium) Includes talking points to help you have difficult conversations with your children, as well as book recommendations.

How to Talk to Kids about Tough Topics (Sesame Workshop) Not specific to ICE but a wonderful resource for conversations we need to have with kids around trauma, violence, what they see in the news, and other topics. I’ve personally used Sesame Workshop’s resources for multiple conversations.

Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network Since I’m a local, I use and see WISN resources often, but they’re helpful no matter where you live. The website is chock full of resources, but here are two of my favorites:

• Guidelines for Bystanders and Observers, available in English and Spanish.

• Know Your Rights with ICE, This one has become a common sight in classrooms and public spaces all over the Seattle area, and for good reason. It’s a handy reference.

Feel free to share this post with others and share any additional resources you have in the comments.

I’m making this post available to everyone, but it’s brought to you by patrons and paid subscribers, who receive some bonus content early as part of their subscription. Paid subscribers enable me to spend more time each week writing and producing the newsletter. Their contributions allow me to keep doing this work and making it available to everyone. Thank you for your continued support and all that you do!

If you’re able to do so, please consider becoming a paid subscriber.