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Talk to a child about a hard topic in words they can handle
Divorce, death, illness or news — you need words that are honest without overwhelming them.
The prompt · ChatGPT
Help me talk to a child about a hard topic. Topic: [divorce, death, illness, news event, other] Child's age: [age] What they already know: [details] What must be true in what I say: [facts] What I won't share yet: [optional] Ask me up to 3 short questions first if anything important is missing. Wait for my answers. Then: 1. A short, honest script in age-right words. 2. Likely questions and calm answers. 3. What to repeat over days. 4. Signs they need more support. 5. Point me to NSPCC Helpline 0808 800 5000 and, for the child, Childline 0800 1111; if anyone is in immediate danger call 999. Only use what I've told you, leave blanks for anything I haven't given, and don't invent facts, diagnoses or legal outcomes. This is help with wording and planning, not legal, medical or counselling advice; point me to GOV.UK, Citizens Advice, NSPCC (0808 800 5000), Childline (0800 1111), Samaritans (116 123) or Refuge/National Domestic Abuse Helpline (0808 2000 247) where that fits, and call 999 if anyone is in immediate danger. UK English. Stay in this ChatGPT chat. Do not turn on apps or connectors, and do not use memory from another chat.
A short example
Fill the blanks, then paste. divorce, death, illness, news event, other: a short note you already have. age: a short note you already have. Leave the rest of the prompt as written.
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