How do you talk to your kids about Trump?

This is part of an ongoing conversation about talking about politics during the election season with kids.

As we move closer to Trump capturing the Republican nomination, it has become increasingly difficult to avoid the inevitable: 'the Trump talk.'

For kids whose parents support Trump, this talk seems quite easy. It's admirable that Trump speaks his mind and doesn't let others push him around. But for rest of us, we've got an issue on our hands.

How can someone who calls his fellow candidates liars and morons, demeans women, uses hateful rhetoric towards immigrants, Muslims, and Black Lives Matter protestors, and doesn't find a problem with violence at his rallies be a viable presidential candidate? And that's not even all of it. To make matters worse, some kids are echoing his rhetoric in their schools.

What's out there about explaining Trump to kids? Here's a humorous approach from one columnist while a Republican has shielded his son from Trump for now. As you can imagine, you'll have to prepare based on the age of your child. My 4-year-old asks amusing questions such as, "Why does he have orange skin? Is his hair real?" In this case, I can keep it simple. "That's just the color of his skin and I'm not sure about the hair."

For more indepth conversations, here is what I've gathered on how to approach the "Trump talk."

Keep it simple if you can

It's been a more basic talk with my 6-year-old so far. "Will you vote for Donald Trump?" she asked me one day. "No, I don't believe he's a nice person and I don't agree with what he says. He has said mean things about women and immigrant groups who have more recently came to live in this country, " I said. Then I moved on to talk about the election process and other candidates who are more respectful towards others.

Address the behavior

Steve Schlozman, MD, an associate director of the MGH Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds, found himself  needing to explain Trump's hands comment to his 10-year-old daughter after she saw him watching clips from the debate. He said in an interview on WBUR Boston, "He's referring to what another candidate has said to him and they're both behaving in ways that I wouldn't want you to behave, even if you don't agree with what someone has said to you on the playground or classroom."

Let them ask questions, voice any concerns

Sarah Mohiuddin, MD, a child analyst and psychiatrist on faculty at The University of Michigan and a Muslim American, said in a Time.com article, " it's important to ask children, especially younger ones like my daughter, what they're thinking about the campaign and Trump without projecting their own emotions and concerns into the conversation. "Don't ask, 'Are you scared?'" she says. Instead ask, "What do you think about the campaign? What do you think about the candidates? What do you hear your friends at school talking about regarding the elections?'"

Put Trump in perspective

Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a professor of history and Italian studies at New York University, who has a 15-year-old daughter, said in a New York Times article that for older children, it helps to place Trump in the context of a society driven by celebrity and social media.

"…we can tell our children that he's a product of our branding culture and our selfie culture and our attraction to reality-show television, where the behavior is so brutal."

The ubiquity of Trump, she said in the article, provides a useful opportunity for children to examine their own preoccupations. "They can learn to look beyond flash and glamour, to be skeptical of the power of messaging and branding, but also to learn that it's important that each one of us speak out and use our right to vote," Ben-Ghiat said. "And to listen to the other side even if you don't agree with them."

Help your child feel safe and secure. Try not to get angry.

It can be a more serious conversation for some children. Some may fear that they or friends could be deported if Trump were to become president.

"It is okay for you, the parent or caregiver, to say you feel angry because that would be the truth and it is normal, but try to be as in control as possible when you say it," said Kim Arrington, PsyD, clinical director of Harlem Family Institute in New York City in a Time.com article. "The goal is to help the child express her feelings and to feel supported, safe and cared for. It also models for them how to express feelings."

Arrington thinks it might be helpful to explain to kids that "we live in a country where people are allowed to say what they want. But, people say hurtful things sometimes when they are angry or scared." It might be helpful to bring up an event in your family where such a thing has happened.

You won't have all the answers.

Not sure how to answer a question? It's ok to tell your child that you want some time to think about it. Here's more advice on talking politics with your children:

KidsHealth: Talking Politics: What to Say to Your Kids

Common Sense Media via CNN: Helping Kids and Teen Navigate an Election Year

Time: How to Talk to your Kids About Political Campaigns

Stay tuned. We'll discuss other politicians as the presidential election continues!

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