If you’ve recently been affected by a layoff, you’re not alone…and if you’re a parent, you’re also navigating one of the toughest questions no one prepares you for:
What do I tell my kids?
At Josie, we support parents during big life transitions, and losing a job is up there with the hardest. The ripple effects hit every corner of life; finances, confidence, identity, and especially home life. And even when we want to shield our kids from all of that, they notice more than we often give them credit for.
Your kids might not understand what “laid off” means, but they do pick up on the shift in routine. They notice if you stop commuting in the morning, if the energy at home feels heavier, if you and your partner are whispering in the kitchen more than usual. And when there’s no conversation to help make sense of it, their imaginations tend to fill in the gaps. Spoiler: their imagined explanations are often scarier than reality.
So how do you talk about something like a layoff in a way that’s honest but age-appropriate?
Here are a few key reminders to start:
Even younger kids can sense when something’s off. Being honest doesn’t mean you have to share every detail…it just means acknowledging that change is happening and giving them language to understand it.
Before having the conversation, take a moment to check in with yourself. What do you want your kids to take away from the conversation? How do you want to feel afterward? A little intention-setting goes a long way.
Kids benefit from seeing their parents have emotions and move through them. It’s okay to say “I’m sad,” or “This is hard,” as long as they know your feelings aren’t their responsibility. The goal is to model vulnerability, not shift the emotional burden.
The top things kids tend to want to know: Are we going to be okay? Are you okay? You don’t need a polished plan to reassure them. It’s enough to say, “I’m still figuring things out, but I’m doing my best to take care of us.”
Pizza Friday? Movie night? Sunday pancakes? Keep them. Routines bring stability, and when life feels uncertain, that stability can be a powerful comfort.
Talking to your kids about a layoff can feel daunting, but it doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be honest, thoughtful, and rooted in connection.
We’ve put together a practical tip sheet with sample language for some of the toughest questions kids ask (like “Are we going to have to move?” or “Are you mad about losing your job?”). It’s helped dozens of families navigate this moment with more confidence and clarity.
Want the full tip sheet?
📩 Email us at [email protected] and we’ll send it your way.
