Childhood is a time of discovering the world around you, a time of asking lots of questions. You’ve heard it before, whether it was your child, the family at the table next to yours at a restaurant, kids from Sunday School class at church, or somewhere else – kids ask questions. And most of the time they’re easy to answer. But sometimes, kids ask some tough questions. And sometimes life is full of difficult circumstances that are beyond a child’s comprehension. So what do we do in those situations? Answering Your Kids’ Toughest Questions author Jessica Thompson gives some helpful answers in this interview with Dr. Bill Maier Live.

1. Know your kids.
If you know what scares your child, or why they might be asking a particular question in the first place, you can be sure to give an age-appropriate, complete answer that helps your child to understand in a new way.

2. Know your kids – Part 2.
Consider your child’s developmental stage. A 5 year old and a 12 year old may ask the same question, but you should be prepared to have a different answer based on what each age could understand and handle.

3. Check your work.
If you are unsure that they understand, ask them some clarifying questions, check to see if they can explain things back to you, or if they agree that they understand.

4. Be open and honest.
As adults, many of us have learned to hide our doubts and fears. We are afraid to show that we don’t have the answers, or that we are afraid of what the truth means for us. But when we can be open and honest with our kids about the difficult things in life, it shows what real Christianity is all about. And it helps our kids to learn that they can have fears and doubts about the world and about God and still be a loved child of God. Along with this, it helps to teach kids how to confess within the body of believers – something that is difficult for each of us.

Check out the full interview to hear more advice on answering the toughest questions.

Tough Questions and Finding Answers