‘World Watch’ Provides News for Kids and Help for Parents

Do you ever have trouble talking with your kids about current events? Do you want to share important news stories with them, but aren’t sure how? Are you concerned they’re getting news and media from biased and unreliable sources?

If so, World Watch, a subscription news service designed for families with children and teenagers, might be able to help. World Watch helps children and adolescents digest important events in an age-appropriate manner – all from a Christian worldview.

According to a recent survey conducted by The Week Junior and YouGov, children and young teenagers may already be consuming more news content then most adults realize.

Almost seven in 10 kids (67%) report hearing about news and current events at least every few days, while 33% say they hear about it daily. An even greater share of kids (68%) say they talk about the news with other people at least weekly.

Unfortunately, children and young teenagers’ media consumption teaches them to worry about the future. When asked how they feel when they hear about news events, 52% said they are concerned about the future, while just 13% feel more hopeful.

At the same time, most kids still want to be informed, with 71% of respondents saying kids should hear about difficult or upsetting news.

The survey also found parents play a huge role in keeping their kids informed, with 62% of respondents saying they primarily get their news updates from family. Other top sources include friends, TV, school, social media apps and YouTube.

Parents also play a crucial role in helping kids process distressing news. Nearly two-thirds of surveyed kids (65%) report talking with family or friends after hearing about difficult or upsetting news.

To help parents and teachers with this important task, World Watch, which is geared towards elementary, middle or high school-age students, provides “real news that nurtures” in 10-minute news updates each weekday. World Watch covers events related to:

• Science
• World Cultures
• Etymology
• Economics
• History
• Government
• Art
• Technology

Created by the WORLD News Group, World Watch helps students develop into full-fledged Christian citizens. Parents and teachers whose kids and students view World Watch have seen the program:

• Spark wonder at how God made the world.
• Increase compassion and curiosity.
• Inspire logical conversations with adults and students.
• Boost students’ awareness of and confidence in knowledge about current events.
• Motivate thoughtful prayers for the people behind the headlines.
• Generate interest in different countries and cultures.

“My own family has a subscription and we’ve been so blessed by it,” wrote Kendra, a parent, as a testimony to the program. “It has fueled our prayer life and enabled us to pray specifically for those all around the world.”

World Watch recently published a sample program featuring coverage of the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

Episode host Brian Basham helps viewers “never forget” the events of September 11 and reminds them that biblical truths remain constant in a changing world, saying, “Whatever the news, the purpose of the Lord will stand” (Proverbs 19:21).

“Bring together your entire family with screen time they can agree on,” the service’s website states. “World Watch’s 10-minute videos enliven curiosity, encourage conversation, and stoke a sense of wonder at God’s world.”

So much of today’s news is out of our control and beyond our reach. At the same time, parents and teachers can help children and young adults within their influence learn about the world, and want to make a difference, by guiding them towards news they can trust.

World Watch may be a great place to help you do just that.

Of course, for all your latest news impacting families on important issues of life, marriage, faith, religious freedom, free speech, education, culture and more, the Daily Citizen is always here to help.

Related articles and resources:

Helping Kids Process Violence in The News and Social Media

How to Talk to Your Kids About The News

Talking to Children About Tragic Events

How to Help Your Kids Process Tragic News

Photo from World Watch.