Next Step 8 - Talk Created Equal

Your Next Step

The best navigation system will be of little value if not used. It is up to you to take the next step—to make the conversation actually happen. Here are some final tips to get you on your way!

Conversation Starters

The best way to start any conversation is with questions. Choose an open-ended question, that way you don’t get a simple “Yes” or “No.” Here are some of our favorites:

Do you think people who are different from us are equal to us?
Do you think parents should take care of their children?
What do you think we should do if we see someone hurting a child?

What to Do

Ask questions

Questions are a powerful tool. In addition to starting conversations, questions can…

Demonstrate interest.

Your kids will be far less interested in a sermon than they will a conversation with you. Asking questions throughout will show you want to hear from them and consider what they think.

Clarify ideas

These are complex ideas you are discussing. Pause occasionally to ask, “Does this make sense? Could you put what I’m saying in your own words?”

Expose assumptions

Sometimes even children make assumptions which need to be addressed. For example, if you show her a picture of a preborn baby and she says, “That doesn’t look like a person,” ask: “Do you mean she doesn’t look just like you? Do you think all people look like you?”

Share stories

Stories are another powerful tool. They can…

Make ideas compelling

For example, imagine you’re trying to explain that whether babies feel pain during abortion is irrelevant to whether it is moral to kill them. Don’t just say, “Parents shouldn’t kill their children even if they don’t feel it.” Instead, tell a story like that of Gabby Gingras, a young girl incapable of feeling pain. Then say, “Gabby would never feel it if someone hurt her. But isn’t it still wrong?”

Inspire

Our team loves to tell stories of heroes from history who saved human lives. These can provide a powerful pattern for your children. Share the story of Nicholas Winton, Irena Sendler, Corrie ten Boom, or many others to form your children’s moral imagination.

Use photos

With very young children, we recommend using pictures of babies developing in the womb to convey their humanity.

For those more mature, consider using pictures of babies who’ve been killed by abortion, to shape both what your youth thinks and how she feels about abortion.

Be humble

Admit when you don’t know the answer. This will show your kids that you care about what is actually true. Tell them you’ll look into it and get back with them.

You can find answers to many questions in our Questions About Abortion and Questions About Created Equal. If it’s not there, contact us and we’ll help you.

Narrate the Conversation

In addition to learning about human equality and abortion specifically, your kids will also be learning generally what it means to have effective dialogue. This is a vital skill which will benefit them for years to come.

Pause occasionally in the conversation to summarize for them what has happened so far and where you’re going next. This will underscore how conversations work.

For example, you might say, “When we started talking, we discussed the truth that all humans are equal. Then we also talked about how parents should take care of their kids. But now that we understand this, I want to see what questions you might have. Is any of this confusing or does it sound wrong to you?”

What Not to Do

Guess their position

You know your kids, but their ideas might still surprise you. Don’t start with, “You and I know that all humans are equal.” Instead, let them speak for themselves.

Rest on labels

The labels on both sides of this debate matter far less than what your child actually thinks about preborn babies and abortion.

Don’t say, “So here’s why you should be ‘pro-life.’” Instead say, “Let me show you how we know preborn babies are humans just like you.”

Assume you’re on the same page

Even if you’re navigating properly, it won’t help if you get to the right destination but leave your child behind. After making a point, ask for feedback: “Do you agree? What do you think?”

Let the conversation go on forever

Your children will likely lose interest in the conversation long before you. Try having multiple short, focused conversations over time rather than one long dialogue that could exhaust your child or squelch interest in the topic.

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