There are some things we wish we did not have to teach our children. War, and the fact that people kill each other, is one of those things. However, since you can’t shield your child from every bad news report or newspaper article out there, it’s inevitable that eventually, your child will ask you about war. How you respond will depend on your child’s age.
If your child is a toddler, your response should be little more than that the men she sees on the television are fighting with bad men. At this age, children can’t grasp abstract concepts like death, so don’t try to explain it.
Older children can understand more, but it’s important to make them understand that war is a bad thing, and that the people fighting are fighting with bad people to try and make the world a safer place. Reinforce the idea that violence is never acceptable, and explain that during a war, some people might die.
If your child’s father or another relative is in the military, explain that he’s fighting to make the world a better place, and that he will be as careful as he can be not to get hurt.
If your child is a toddler, your response should be little more than that the men she sees on the television are fighting with bad men. At this age, children can’t grasp abstract concepts like death, so don’t try to explain it.
Older children can understand more, but it’s important to make them understand that war is a bad thing, and that the people fighting are fighting with bad people to try and make the world a safer place. Reinforce the idea that violence is never acceptable, and explain that during a war, some people might die.
If your child’s father or another relative is in the military, explain that he’s fighting to make the world a better place, and that he will be as careful as he can be not to get hurt.