How Do I Answer My Young Child’s Difficult Questions about Global Conflict or War?
A Bright Horizons® Resource for Families
When war or global conflicts occur in our world, we are all impacted – including our children. Even if you are able to shield your child from violent images or news stories, they may still have difficult questions about current events. There is no single, correct way to respond to your child when they are struggling to understand tragic events in our world. What young children need more than anything is our presence, warmth, and strength. For more information and tips, please explore the following resources.
- A free guide for adults to help children feel supported through times of stress: What Happened to MY World? Helping Children Copy with Crisis, Trauma, and Stress
- Short video that outlines tips on how to respond to young children’s questions in a way that makes them feel emotionally safe: Talking to Children About War
- One-hour free webinar about how to explain war and global conflict to young children: Explaining War and Global Conflict to Young Children
- A guide to answering questions about war and military events: Answering Questions About Military Engagement, War, Hate Crimes, and Terrorism
Additional Resources
- Resources on how to help your child through traumatic experiences: Traumatic Experiences by Sesame Workshop
- A short article about keeping your child emotionally safe during times of conflict: How to Talk to Young Children About War