Children and Public Protest: Thoughts for Families in Uncertain Times
Protest, Parenting, and the American Pattern
Throughout American history, moments of deep national reckoning have often played out in the streets.
From the Boston Tea Party to the Selma to Montgomery marches, from anti-war demonstrations to Standing Rock, protest has been a defining thread in the fabric of our democracy. It is how everyday people—parents, students, workers, elders—have claimed a voice when institutions failed to hear them.
Today, we find ourselves in another such moment.
Nationwide demonstrations have returned with renewed urgency. People are protesting state violence, disinformation, threats to democracy, environmental collapse, and economic injustice. These gatherings—sometimes hopeful, sometimes tense—are not new. But they are once again forcing the country to grapple with who we are, and what we’re willing to stand for.
As in generations past, many families are asking:
What does it mean to bring children into this kind of public space?
What are the risks, the responsibilities, and the realities of raising young people in times of unrest?
These questions are not just logistical. They are moral, emotional, and deeply personal. For some, bringing children to a protest feels like a sacred act—showing them what civic engagement looks like firsthand. For others, it raises concerns about safety, trauma, and unintended consequences. Both instincts are valid. Both deserve space.
This article does not offer judgment or instruction. Instead, it provides a framework for reflection—grounded in child development, protest dynamics, and historical precedent. It also includes a direct request to law enforcement and security professionals: to consider the long-term impact of their actions when children are present in protest spaces.
Because while protest is a powerful expression of democracy, children’s well-being must remain a shared priority—for caregivers, organizers, and the state alike.
Let’s consider this moment with care, clarity, and an honest understanding of the risks and responsibilities it carries.
A Clear-Eyed Acknowledgment
Before moving into age-specific considerations, it’s important to name something directly:
We are not looking at this through rose-colored lenses.
While most protests are peaceful, purposeful, and powerfully organized, the reality is that demonstrations can and do escalate—sometimes rapidly. The presence of law enforcement in tactical gear, the actions of provocateurs with ulterior agendas, the unpredictability of large crowds, and the emotional weight of the issues at stake can all contribute to volatile conditions.
Conflict does not require intent—it can erupt through misunderstanding, fear, or the actions of a few individuals. Once that line is crossed, the environment can shift from peaceful assembly to confrontation with remarkable speed.
This guide does not assume ideal conditions. It acknowledges the real risks that can emerge even in protests rooted in peace. That’s why each consideration that follows is offered with seriousness, not sentimentality—and with children’s well-being as the guiding priority.
Age-Based Considerations
In moments of public unrest or civic engagement, some families may consider bringing their children to protest events. This guide offers developmentally informed considerations, drawn from observed patterns, child development science, and known safety dynamics.
We are not offering advice or direction—only context for caregivers to weigh for themselves.
Ages 0–5: Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers
At this age, children are in early stages of neurological and emotional development. Their ability to regulate fear, process noise, or adapt to unpredictability is extremely limited.
Key considerations:
- Young children are highly sensitive to environmental stress—even if they can’t articulate it.
- Protest environments, even during the day, can be loud, crowded, and suddenly tense.
- Children in this age group are unable to retain long-term contextual memories but may store physical and emotional stress responses.
- Caregivers carrying small children may be less able to react quickly to sudden changes or exits.
Ages 6–10: Early Elementary Years
Children in this range may be starting to grasp moral language around fairness, justice, and inequality. They are often curious and observant—but still rely on adults to help interpret and manage emotionally intense situations.
Key considerations:
- Daytime events that are intentionally structured for community visibility may feel more manageable, but circumstances can shift quickly.
- Children at this stage may freeze, panic, or dissociate in high-pressure situations, even when prepped.
- Emotional and physical safety still depends heavily on proximity to and support from a trusted adult.
- No matter the planning, protests that continue into evening hours present substantially greater risk.
Ages 11–15: Pre-Teens and Young Teens
This age group may express strong interest in activism, social justice, or civic engagement. Some may want to participate in protest environments with adults they trust.
Key considerations:
- Young teens may intellectually grasp protest goals but lack full situational awareness or risk calculation.
- They may struggle to manage overwhelm, sensory overload, or confrontation—especially if events escalate suddenly.
- Participation requires clear communication, advance planning, exit strategies, and calm, present adult supervision.
- Emotional debriefing after the event may be necessary to help process what they saw or felt.
Ages 16–18: Older Teens and Young Adults
Teens in this range are increasingly acting independently and forming strong convictions about politics, justice, and identity. Many are already participating in movements and civic discourse.
Key considerations:
- Supportive adults can provide context, help assess risks, and offer logistical and emotional backup.
- Situational awareness, physical safety plans, and knowledge of protest dynamics become especially important.
- The role of caregivers may shift from decision-makers to collaborative partners in safety and preparedness.
Across All Ages: A Consistent Risk Pattern
Nighttime protest environments pose elevated and unpredictable risk.
- Historical and recent events show that protests are more likely to escalate after dark due to reduced visibility, increased tension, and the presence of actors operating outside the protest’s core intent.
- Children—regardless of age—are less equipped to navigate those conditions.
A Request to Police and Security
In any protest setting, children may be present—whether intentionally or because families lacked access to childcare, live nearby, or did not anticipate escalation.
While we are not advocating for children’s participation in protests, we recognize that their presence is sometimes unavoidable.
To that end, we respectfully ask:
If You Encounter Children at a Protest:
1. De-escalate First. Always.
- If a child is in the vicinity, even a justified use of force (tear gas, flashbangs, arrests) can have long-term traumatic effects.
- When possible, create a buffer between crowd control actions and family groups.
2. Avoid Intimidation Gestures in Child Proximity
- Pointing weapons, shouting commands, or forming tight riot lines near children can be devastating—even if unintended.
- Use restraint. Children absorb everything, and what they see now may shape how they view police for life.
3. Support Safe Exits
- If families or caregivers attempt to leave with children, allow them a clear path out—even if curfew is in place or dispersal orders have been given.
- Prioritize evacuation and minimize unnecessary confrontation.
4. Protect Their Image of You
- Many children—especially in underserved communities—still say they want to be police officers when they grow up.
- What happens in a tense moment can either reinforce that dream or destroy trust for a generation.
Law enforcement officers often say they joined the force “to protect and serve.” We ask that in these moments—no matter how chaotic—they remember that protection begins with the most vulnerable.
Please Remember
This guide is meant only to offer structured considerations for your own decision making. Each family and situation is unique. The presence of children at public demonstrations carries potential physical and emotional risks—and those risks may change rapidly depending on the location, tone, and response to the event.
We invite caregivers, organizers, and public officials to reflect on these considerations when navigating decisions that may impact children’s safety and well-being
Disclaimer
I am not a therapist, counselor, attorney, or medical professional.
While informed by conversations with pediatricians and mental health professionals, this guide is not intended to serve as professional, legal, or psychological advice.
Its sole purpose is to offer context, informed by research, historical precedent, and observed protest dynamics, to help individuals and families make their own decisions based on what feels safest and most appropriate for them.
Every situation is different. Every child is different.
The responsibility for decision-making lies with each caregiver, based on their own judgment, values, and circumstances.
This is simply a tool—offered in good faith—for reflection, preparation, and perspective.
