Conversation guide for children and parents
How to turn a series for adolescents into an honest conversation at home
Parents and adolescents now have access to an online conversation guide designed to help them discuss more effectively the situations many children and young people face today: bullying, discrimination, exclusion, peer pressure, relationships with classmates, difficult emotions, and challenges in the online environment.
The resource, designed as a digital toolkit, can be downloaded and used together with the socio-educational series “Generation ALPHA”, available on YouTube on the “Ciao Patricia” channel. Families are encouraged to watch the five episodes together and, using the simple questions and friendly recommendations included in the guide, turn the story on screen into a constructive dialogue.
The conversation guide was developed by UNICEF, the Republican Centre for Psycho-Pedagogical Assistance and CioFilm, in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Research, and is intended to be useful also during the summer holidays, when families spend more time together. The content was developed by Dana Lichii, psychologist and Head of the Psycho-Pedagogical Assistance Service in Bălți municipality, with the support and contribution of specialists from all partner institutions.
What the conversation guide includes
The guide offers open-ended questions, recommendations and reflection topics for each episode of the series. These help parents talk to adolescents without pressure, without judgment and without the idea that there are “right” or “wrong” answers.
The guide encourages adults to listen more, notice signs of emotional difficulties and create a safe space at home where adolescents can feel understood, validated and supported.
Topics covered include:
- how to recognize bullying and cyberbullying;
- how to talk about discrimination and exclusion;
- how to help adolescents express their emotions;
- how to encourage them to ask for help and where they can find support;
- how to build trust between parents and children;
- how to discuss online experiences.
A conversation started around an episode can become a first step towards a closer relationship between parents and adolescents. Sometimes, it is easier for children to talk about what they feel when the conversation begins with a story, a character or a situation they have watched together on screen.
Through this guide, UNICEF and the project partners encourage families to use free time during the holidays not only for relaxation, but also for connection, listening and emotional support.
A conversation guide useful in various educational settings
Beyond family activities, both the guide and the series itself are highly suitable resources for summer camps, children’s activity centres and other similar educational settings. In addition, the summer holiday is a good opportunity for teachers to explore this material and prepare in advance for the next school year.
The tool provides teachers, instructors and psychologists with ready-to-use plans for initiating classroom and group discussions, reflection exercises and activities through which young people can learn to recognize bullying, healthily express their emotions and build respectful relationships with their peers, helping to make their spaces safer and friendlier.
To stay connected to the latest updates and always have access to useful content, children, adolescents, parents, teachers, psychologists and everyone interested are invited to become part of the series’ community on social media: Facebook, Instagram și TikTok
Download the conversation guide for free.
Watch the “Generation ALPHA” series for free on YouTube – Ciao Patricia channel.
