Written By Jermaine Magethe
The world appears to be making a lot of noise nowadays.
Headlines are filled with chaos. Sounds of bombings, protests, and grieving families fill our feeds. From Gaza and Israel’s conflicts to unrest in Sudan, Ukraine, and others; children are seeing and learning more than perhaps we acknowledge.
Even if the rebellion isn’t happening in their own backyard, most kids are affected by the global atmosphere of fear and uncertainty. They’re asking questions. They sense when the adults around them are anxious. They’re wondering if they’re safe and if everyone else is, too.
As parents, caretakers, educators, and models, we have a very great responsibility: to help kids make sense of a world that most of the time doesn’t make sense at all.
So what do we say to our children these days?
Whatever they learn of bombings in the Middle East, protests in Kenya, or refugee crises in Africa and globally, children need more than silence. They need us to talk to them with love, with truth, and with hope.
Here are some tips to keep in mind:
- Begin with Reassurance
Start with the most important message: “You are safe.”.
It is not always possible to promise, but kids need to know that the big people in their lives will protect them and assist them. Safety is the ground rule for any decent conversation.
If your child is worrying about a war they have seen on TV, say to them:
“That is happening somewhere far away, and we are safe for now. But it’s okay to feel sad or frightened for others.”
- Translate the News into a language they understand
Don’t frighten children with gruesome details. But share suitable info:
“Sometimes, countries or groups of countries fight because they disagree on land, power, or religion. Violence and war injure many people, particularly children and families. That’s why people everywhere are trying to help and stop the violence.”
This way, you’re telling the truth without indulging in fear.
- Teach Them About Conflict Without Spreading Hate
Children are naturally curious: “Why are they fighting?” or “Who’s the bad guy?”
It is unfair to reduce global conflict to heroes and villains.
You can say:
“It’s not necessarily good and bad always. Sometimes, people get hurt and mad, and they make choices that hurt others. What matters is we always try to love people, even people who are different from us.”
This encourages empathy and global citizenship.
- Let Them Ask Questions and Listen Without Judgment
Do not feel obligated to have all the answers. The goal is not to be right, it’s to be present.
Let them ask:
“Will this happen here?”
“Why do people die in war?”
“Why can’t grownups fix it?”
You can respond honestly:
“I don’t know everything, but I’ll always show you the truth. And I’ll always be here for you.”
- Encourage Compassion and Action
Even when they are unable to stop a war or put an end to a protest, children may still be empowered with love and compassion.
1.Create peace messages and drawings.
1.Pray or meditate in families.
Talk about how to give back like helping refugee families or donating.
This teaches that little acts of love matter, especially in big moments of tragedy.
- Limit and Filter Exposure When Needed
It’s okay to turn off the TV. To unplug. To safeguard your child’s heart and mind.
Children don’t need to feed on 24/7 news cycles. Maintain their innocence, while educating them on how to be thoughtful, smart citizens.
- Practice Calm, Hope, and Humanity
Children learn more from what we do than what we say.
Show empathy towards people on both sides of a conflict. Be sad, not hopeless. Read stories about helpers , journalists, aid workers, peacebuilders.
Say:
“Even when bad things happen, there are always people helping. We can be those people too.”
They’re Watching So Let’s Lead with Love
The world is a rough world today, and that’s a big enough job for adults to handle. But children don’t need to carry the whole weight of global conflict. What they do need is guidance. Clarity. Comfort. And above all, love.
When the world appears to be coming apart at the seams, be the thread that holds your child together.
Because regardless of where the chaos is happening from the streets of Nairobi to Gaza’s borders; all children must be seen, heard, and defended.
And one day, these children will become adults. Let the words we share with them today inspire them to live in a more peaceful, better world tomorrow.