How To Talk To Kids About The War In Ukraine
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Like us you’re probably facing a number of questions from your kids about the tragedy that is unfolding in Ukraine. Of course we want to protect our children from the horrors of war but we also are duty-bound to help educate the next generation about what is going on in the world around them.
We’ve been hearing questions like, “Why are people being killed?
", “Is war coming here next?”, “Why are kids like me having to leave their homes?”. These are questions we never expected to be asked, and we hope with the help of Dr Gail Sinitsky, leading child psychologist and the founder of Young and Mighty, we can help you answer them.
How can I reassure my child if they’re feeling scared and confused about the war?
Every emotion your child experiences is valid, although it may feel overwhelming to them. Give them space to express their feelings, whether through talking, arts, play or storytelling. This can help with processing and “meaning-making” and can also be a safer and easier way for children to communicate their thoughts and feelings.
Your child may experience a variety of emotions about the war - fear, sadness, confusion, or even indifference. It may be a particularly difficult time for children who have had personal experience of war or conflict, or who have a family member in the armed forces or a friend directly affected by this war.
Sometimes, children who are confused about concepts or topics “fill in the gaps” with their own theories and ideas (or with snippets of things they’ve seen or heard from others) which in turn can exacerbate their feelings. So, give your child an age-appropriate overview of the war.
Stick to the facts but also don’t be afraid to share any uncertainty that you may have.
Invite them to share any information they have seen or heard (such as, “World War 3 has started”) and then help them to understand what is factual. Importantly, reassure them that they are safe and that leaders all around the world are working hard to bring peace.
Should we turn off TV and radio news reports when our kids are around?
It can be helpful for children to read, watch and hear news stories, even if it’s about frightening events such as the war. However, for young children, it would be safest to stick to reputable, child-focussed sites such as BBC Newsround. These sites will use child-friendly language and explanations, and will ensure that more distressing images are not shown.
Some of the current reporting of the war is extremely distressing, even for adults, so it’s important to scaffold what children see and hear, whilst also giving them important information. Be mindful if the TV or radio are playing in the background, and also of anything they may see on social media sites like TikTok.
Overall, it is a good idea to check-in with them regularly: what have you seen/heard? How do you feel? Do you have any questions?
Should we let our kids see that we are upset?
In some ways, it’s unavoidable. The strength of feeling about the war is so powerful that it’s hard to hide.
It’s not necessarily a bad thing for children to see their parents sad or scared. It normalises and validates emotions that children themselves experience, too.
It is also a great learning opportunity about how to express and cope with difficult feelings in healthy ways. If your child does see you upset, a helpful tip is to “narrate” to your child: “Did you see me feeling sad earlier?
Yes I’m feeling very sad about the war and I’m worried for the people in Ukraine. It helped me to cry and I’m also going to speak to my friend about how I feel.” You could also ask your child how it felt for them to see you upset - so that they can express any concerns they have.
One thing to bear in mind is that when parents’ emotions become too overwhelming and all-consuming, children can be left feeling scared or confused. That sometimes can happen if parents don’t have a healthy outlet for their feelings, so it’s really important that we all have support during these difficult times.
How can war be put into words that my child understands?
This is such an important question because there are words and concepts that adults use in relation to war that can be very confusing to children. Giving children age-appropriate language will be very important in helping them to process and make sense of what is going on.
The actual words and concepts you use will very much depend on your child - their age, development and preferences. Some children will appreciate using analogies and metaphors, while others will prefer to understand what different words and concepts mean.
What can we do to make a difference?
- Show your solidarity on social media by sharing news, places to donate, and supporting Ukrainian accounts with the hashtag #StandWithUkraine and the sunflower emoji, as the sunflower is Ukraine's national flower.
- Demonstrate your solidarity by joining a Peace Protest in your neighborhood, and if you can’t find one spread the word in your local area and make your own. The kids can get involved by making pictures and banners to support a call for peace in the region.
- Write to your elected representative - either your congressman (for Kidadlers in the US) or your MP (for Kidadlers in the UK).
How can we donate to help the Ukrainian people?
If you’re able to donate items you already have or would like to purchase items to help Ukrainian refugees you can find local drop off points for collections that are being organized near you and your family on social media.
Alternatively if your family would like to make a monetary donation, there a plenty of trusted organizations helping Ukraine including the charities and nonprofits listed below:
Save the Children has created a Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund for donations to aid children across Ukraine at this time of crisis.
Voices of Children, a Ukrainian charitable foundation, exists to serve the psychological needs of children affected by war and is now assisting children and families across the country, including offering help with evacuations. You can donate here.
Sunflower of Peace is a nonprofit that is acquiring and distributing first-aid backpacks, medicine, medical instruments, and other means of survival that are saving hundreds of lives across Ukraine.
The World Food Programme is the U.N.’s anti-hunger humanitarian organization which is bringing emergency relief to Ukraine and bordering countries, aiming to provide food assistance to 3.1 million Ukrainians affected by war.
Care has established a Ukraine Crisis Fund and is looking to provide help to 4 million Ukrainian people, especially women, girls and the elderly.
Doctors Without Borders, which works across conflict zones, has teamed up with volunteers in Ukraine to provide health-care facilities and access to medicines.
Together we can do our bit to help support families across Ukraine. #StandWithUkraine
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Bachelor of Science specializing in Psychology, Doctor in Counseling Psychology
Dr GailBachelor of Science specializing in Psychology, Doctor in Counseling Psychology
A child counseling psychologist and founder of Young and Mighty, Gail has a Doctorate in Counseling Psychology from the University of East London and extensive experience working with children. Her mission is to nurture children's mental health through her social enterprise.
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