Kids can stop you in your tracks with unexpectedly tough questions, warns NPR (National Public Radio).
Such as:

I know she died, but when is Grandma coming back?

Why is your skin darker than Mommy’s?

Why do we live here but Daddy doesn’t?

There are good (to them) answers and, well, lots that leave them unsatisfied.

NPR has committed itself to a series of parenting guides for NPR’s Life Kit, “a family of podcasts dedicated to making your life just a little bit easier.”

In the meantime, though, here’s a quick primer on answering tough questions rom kids.

• When you get a tough question, listen for what the child is really asking.

Don’t rush to answer. Pause and ask for clarification. It buys you time to choose your words carefully. It also stops you from answering the wrong question.

• Give them facts, but at a pace they can manage.

Whether you’re breaking news about the death of a loved one or a serious illness, it’s important to understand that children process information a bit at a time. That means you should be prepared to revisit the topic, perhaps many times.

• “That’s a great question. Let’s find out more together.”

This is a good response to have up your sleeve for complex issues: science, history, race, gender, politics, scary incidents in the news or any time a question catches you off guard.

“We can say, ‘Let’s explore this together, because that question is really a big one,’ ” says Jeanette Betancourt, senior vice president for U.S. social impact at Sesame Workshop. ” ‘Let’s go to the library and let’s look at some books. Let’s search for maybe some films or movies or get recommendations from our teachers or librarians.’ Because not everything has to be in the moment.”

• Reassure them that they are safe and loved.

Often when kids grapple with a scary or uncertain subject, their questions will have one fundamental motivation: What’s going to happen to me? Will I be safe? Will I be taken care of? Those are the questions you need to answer, even if they aren’t being asked explicitly.

• Don’t be afraid to share your emotions.

Grown-ups don’t have to “wall ourselves off in our grief” or other feelings, says Rosemarie Truglio, a developmental psychologist and Sesame Workshop’s senior vice president of education and research.

Her mother died several years ago, and she says she still experiences moments of grief. Recently, she says, she cried in front of her son and didn’t hesitate to explain, “I’m sad because I miss Grandma.”