How to Explain War to Your Kids

Within the last decade, the world has become a pretty scary place. Acts of terrorism and war are now the subject of most newscasts and newspaper headlines on a regular basis; and therefore, probably words in your child's vocabulary. Without proper clarification, these terrifying concepts can take on a life of their own to an impressionable young child. Knowing that terrorism and war exists without some understanding of what they are can threaten a child's basic sense of security, which can have long-term negative effects.

By talking to your children, you'll help them learn to cope with what is, unfortunately, a reality in the world in which we live. How much you want them to know largely depends on how old your children are and how they have been impacted by terrorism or war. For example, children with a parent or relative in the military will most likely have a lot more questions and require more information than those who have only seen war mentioned on the news. Here are some tips to help you get the conversation started.