How do you raise kids who see the world’s problems, and believe they can do something about it?

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“I guess I'm concerned that kids are becoming depressed and overwhelmed by the big problems that they see in the world. And I think if we just leave it at that, they will grow up with a worldview that says, ‘The world's a wreck. There's nothing I can do in it. I might as well just watch Netflix.’ Whereas I think if we give kids an opportunity to respond to the problems in the world when they're young, they will develop a worldview that says, ‘Oh, there's a problem in the world. There's something I can do about that.’”

Susy Lee has a background in psychology, theology, aid and development, peace and conflict, children’s and family ministry, and … computer science. Across her various jobs and studies, she’s been preoccupied with the question: how do you make the world better? 

She’s convinced that how we parent has an awful lot to do with it. In her new book, Raising Kids Who Care: Practical conversations for exploring stuff that matters, together, Susy has built a handbook for family discussions on everything from consumerism to how to listen well, conflict resolution to porn, world poverty and climate change to finding your purpose in life. 

In this episode of Life & Faith, she explains how her own family background and experience has shaped her, and offers a model for parents and others to help kids encounter the tricky realities of life in ways that are hopeful, and might just change the world.

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Buy a copy of Raising Kids Who Care: Practical conversations for exploring stuff that matters, together https://www.amazon.com.au/Raising-Kids-Who-Care-conversations-ebook/dp/B0971FTPXR/