Do you want your family to know about and be able to discuss the current events happening within our world?
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Try CNN 10. Ten minutes of relatively “bias-free” summaries of 2-3 major topics impacting our world, spotlights on people who make a difference, trivia and a “pun”-ny closing are what we’ve come to expect when we hear the “tick tick tick” sound that starts each episode.
Simulated setup – We’ve come to expect to watch CNN 10 as a part of our breakfast routine. Some of the benefits are listed below!
We have been using CNN 10, which replaces CNN Student News each morning during breakfast each day for over a week now. We try to bring it up using the website here but for us, it often errors (sound and video don’t match or the screen is just black with sound). So we end up watching it each weekday via YouTube by typing in “CNN 10” and the day’s date. Someone usually has it posted on their own YouTube channel (vs the CNN YouTube channel) and it looks great on our donated (Thank you Aunt G!) iPad each morning.
Here’s the video from April 30, 2018. I wanted to highlight two of the stories mentioned in that specific newscast that was particularly inspiring for me. Embedded below is an uploaded video that someone posted here:
This is what our family has come to expect:
Listen.
Listen in for a “quiz” question to ask once the broadcast is finished. Each person takes a turn asking the family a question. Of course, they need to know the answer to be able to tell if whomever responded is correct. This helps with memory retention and practices articulating questions. It also helps practice waiting their turn to speak and normal conversation etiquette.
Note: The first time I tried this, I did experience resistance from our 11 year old. So I allowed him to not ask a question that day but to be prepared for the next day as we would be doing this again. He was ready the next day and even volunteered to go first! I also had my 9 year old say that she couldn’t think of anything. During that time, we all practiced patience as we waited, declining offers to answer for her. We did eventually have to help her come up with a question by asking her questions like, “Do you remember what the news stories today were about? (Yes.) What were they?” As she would list them, she remembered a story no one asked about yet in their “quiz” questions and so she was able to think of a question to ask. If that didn’t work, I’d add, “What is something interesting to you about one of those stories?” Basically, the idea is to let everyone know that all are expected to come up with something to ask the group. Do you have other suggestions here for us? Do tell!
Answer.
Try to answer the ’10 second trivia’ question. We’ve learned lots of interesting and random (but not so random as these questions typically lead into the next news story!) facts through this time of guessing. One day, if we keep this up, I imagine there will be more “answering” and less “guessing” as we all learn more and more through this trivia time together!
Share.
Share what was interesting from the news that day. This is just an opportunity to elaborate or ask in-depth questions about the events discussed. I remember talking about plastics and the importance of recycling in one story. We were able to bring up that conversation again at the store as the cashier asked us “do you want a bag (for your one item)”? We’ve had great questions as well. My 10 year old asked, after the 1 May 2018 story, why would anyone want to “claim responsibility” for killing other people? We even have discussions inferred from the news story, but not explicitly stated by the reporter such as, “Why were the nations skeptical about North Korea? Why didn’t the other nations just believe North Korea when they said they would denuclearize their weapons?” (Okay, you got me. I posed that question to the family!) I listened to their guesses and then we were able to emphasize character traits such as honesty and the importance of keeping your word. Dad also talked about how other people (or nations) form perceptions of you based upon your actions.
Spend time.
Spending time together with one another. Eating meals at the table while talking with one another and getting to know one another better through the discussion prompts offered by the different news stories presented are priceless benefits resulting from this time together. Tagging it with breakfast just helps to ensure it will get done! Even if Dad isn’t present that morning due to work, we still keep with the routine. Perhaps this can be something they will grow to cherish and pass on throughout future generations to come!
Piece on Shaquem Griffin. (Starting about 4:50) The fact that he was drafted into the NFL by the Seattle Seahawks with only ONE HAND was amazing. I loved that story because it is an inspiration for all of us sitting at breakfast to keep going. Keep working towards the goals that you want to reach and not to let a focus on what you don’t have stop you. In fact, one of our unspoken “rules” during the 10 minutes is to keep quiet because it would be hard to hear what is being said. But during this story, my husband slapped the table and yelled out “ARE YOU TELLING ME HE ONLY HAS ONE HAND AND WAS DRAFTED IN—” I shushed him ’cause I couldn’t hear the rest of the story. I sincerely felt the same way. That is a WOW story!!! (When I went to the gym later that morning with a few friends, I shared with them about this story. When faced with a tough exercise set, I said “well if that guy with one hand could be drafted into the NFL, then I can do this!”) Even if Mr. Griffin would prefer to NOT be known or referred to by his disability, it does set him apart from everyone else. I hope he continues to pursue his dreams; opening the doors for others who didn’t think it was possible to fall suit, work hard and aim big!
Piece on Dr. Rob Gore. (Starting about 5:40) Dr. Gore is an ER doctor who grew up in and works in Brooklyn, NY; he is a CNN Hero. He created KAVI, a violence intervention program based in the school, community and the hospital that helps to educate and offer alternatives to violence. Visit their website here: https://kavibrooklyn.org/ What struck me personally, was that this man- even though he experienced the reality of living in Brooklyn (being robbed at the age of 11)- he is STILL THERE actually DOING SOMETHING about it. He went to school for a number of years to become a doctor and is there generating conversations and drawing awareness to the youth and to their needs today. Dr. Gore is inspiring in so many ways to those both inside and outside the NYC community. I thought, what if we all went back to help those who are currently dealing with the struggles we once faced? We can’t change the past but what if we were a part of the solution today?
Thoughts to consider:
How do you stay on top of current events in your home?
How do you keep lines of communication open within your family members?
How do you practice the art of making conversation within your family?
I’d love to hear from you!
Please share if you found this helpful. Thank you!
4 thoughts on “Newsworthy conversations in your home”
What a blessing to have come here, Sejana. Your visit to Being Woven to research a weaver’s beam makes this day. Doing that with your son is so special and important. I once taught and when we listen to their questions and guide them, discuss with them, show them the way to answers will be lessons they use from then on. I love the way you use the CNN10 also with the kids as a family. Thank you for your service, Sejana. I am married to a Vietnam Veteran and my Daddy was a Navy doctor in WWII, career Navy. Thanks for teaching us how to pronounce your name too!
Caring through Christ, ~ linda
Sejana Shines 
What a blessing to have come here, Sejana. Your visit to Being Woven to research a weaver’s beam makes this day. Doing that with your son is so special and important. I once taught and when we listen to their questions and guide them, discuss with them, show them the way to answers will be lessons they use from then on. I love the way you use the CNN10 also with the kids as a family. Thank you for your service, Sejana. I am married to a Vietnam Veteran and my Daddy was a Navy doctor in WWII, career Navy. Thanks for teaching us how to pronounce your name too!
Caring through Christ, ~ linda
I’m sorry I never responded to your kind comments. Thank you for perusing my blog and commenting here about it Linda!
Great post Sejana! This is a great way to stay informed and connected!
Thank you for reading and commenting! Is there a way that your family discusses current events in your home that you can share here?