How to talk to your child about war and conflicts

In a world filled with war and conflict shielding your child from images and stories of devastated regions can be a challenge Even if you manage to limit their exposure to social media schools often become places where these conversations surface Your children may experience feelings of fear sadness despair and anxietyDr Pallavi Rao Chaturvedi a Parenting Coach and Educationist highlights some ways you can provide comfort and support to children during these hard timesListen Attentively Gain an understanding of how much they know about the situation where theyre getting their information and how theyre feeling about it Choose a comfortable setting like family time or a meal and ideally involve both parents in the conversation Approach the situation in a practical manner without projecting negative emotions Younger children may struggle to articulate their feelings as effectively as older ones but encourage any form of expression be it through drawing or physical gestures like hugging Avoid minimizing or dismissing their concerns and questions Respond in a way that makes them feel secure Adapt your language to suit their age observe their reactions and be mindful of their anxiety levels Reassure your children that they are safe from harmMonitor their Information Sources Refrain from watching distressing content in their presence or reacting to it Children often take emotional cues from their parents so do this privately Ensure they arent exposed to unsettling images Opt for reputable news websites or international organizations like the United Nations UN and occasionally share positive news with your children to reassure them that authorities are acting You cant entirely suppress a childs curiosity about these matters so adult supervision and guidance are crucial in how they consume contentAddress Stigma with Compassion During times of conflict prejudice and discrimination can surface against specific groups or nations When discussing these matters with your children try to avoid using terms like bad people or evil Do not use any slurs to address groups or describe a certain sect of people as problematic Instead use the conversation as an opportunity to nurture empathy especially for families who are forced to leave their homesEncourage Acts of Kindness See if your child is interested in participating in positive activities They might enjoy creating a peacethemed drawing or writing a poem Consider joining a local fundraiser or signing a petition together Even small actions like these can offer significant comfort and a sense of purpose to children Encourage them to gather essential items to assist other families particularly children during times of crisis Seek out uplifting stories such as first responders like police firefighters and volunteers lending a helping hand or young individuals advocating for peace to make them feel like theyre contributing to a solutionCultivate Empathy and Sensitivity Even when conflict occurs in a distant place it can still lead to discrimination closer to home Ensure your children arent involved in or witnessing any form of bullying If they have experienced namecalling or bullying at school let them know they can talk to you or a trusted adult about it Reiterate to your children that everyone deserves to feel safe at school and in society Bullying and discrimination are never acceptable and its crucial for each of us to promote kindness and offer support to one anotherChildren respond to difficult situations in various ways some signs of distress may not be immediately apparent Younger children might become more attached than usual while teenagers might express intense feelings of grief or anger Most of these reactions are temporary and are typical responses to challenging circumstances However if these reactions persist over an extended period it may be beneficial to seek specialised support for your childThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever