Immigration is in the news, in our communities, and sometimes in our own families. But how do we explain it to kids without scaring them? Elise Hu talks with comedian and writer Negin Farsad about what her daughter has noticed, and what Negin chooses to share. Children’s author Duncan Tonatiuh joins to share how his book Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote helps kids understand the dangers and resilience behind migration stories. From undocumented families to family separation headlines, this conversation shows parents how to talk about immigration as part of our shared story, while giving children hope, safety, and practical ways to understand their world.
Key takeaways for parents:
Show the kids in your life that immigration is part of America’s shared story.
When tough headlines come up, acknowledge them and offer age-appropriate context instead of avoiding the subject.
Use books and stories to build empathy, showing both the risks and the resilience in migration journeys.
Talk about civic values like rights, community, and responsibility.
Balance safety with normalcy: give kids tools like memorizing a phone number while still letting them enjoy the fun of childhood.
⏱️ Timestamps:
Keep the conversation going at home with our FREE Conversation Kit companion guide: https://delivery.shopifyapps.com/-/ed0fd48c366bfcc5/f9e9fe86fd9c42cf
Follow Negin Farsad on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neginfarsad
Follow Duncan Tonatiuh on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/duncan.tonatiuh/
New episodes every Tuesday:
YouTube: https://swap.fm/l/P8iCjNFnIWI7kTmU0vmk
Apple: https://swap.fm/l/kCnCRNdWkpuYYbyzyE77
Spotify: https://swap.fm/l/SOQe4gSHh3vVIwPGFDet
Or wherever you get your podcasts.
🔗 START HERE
📌 Get free weekly conversation kits: https://akidsco.com/pages/raising-us
📌 Browse A Kids Co. books that pair with episodes: https://akidsco.com
📌 Follow Elise Hu: https://www.instagram.com/elisewho
ABOUT THE SHOW
Raising Us | Parenting Podcast for Kids, Tweens, & Conscious Caregivers
Award-winning journalist Elise Hu (TED Talks Daily, Forever35) hosts Raising Us, a parenting podcast for grownups raising Big-Question Kids. From puberty and identity to tech and body image, each episode gives you tools to spark real conversations with the kids in your life.
Created by A Kids Co. (a family media company) the show blends expert-backed insights with real, lived experiences featuring trusted doctors, educators and purpose-driven public figures sharing age-appropriate advice so you don't have to wing the hard stuff.
Follow on:
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.