Skip to main content

Wars Are Bad and Sad: Explaining Wars to Young Children

Explaining war to children can be challenging, but it's important to approach the topic with sensitivity. Here's a simplified, point-form explanation suitable for young children:

Wars are fights between countries or groups:

Sometimes, people in different places disagree or can't get along.

Instead of talking and finding a solution, they might use force, like fighting or using weapons.

People have different opinions:

Just like friends or family may have different ideas, countries can too.

Instead of working together, they may choose to fight.

Not all problems are solved peacefully:

Ideally, countries should talk and negotiate to solve their problems.

Unfortunately, sometimes they make bad choices and start fighting.

War causes sadness and destruction:

When there is war, many people get hurt, and buildings and homes can be damaged.

It makes people sad and can take a long time for things to get better.

Hope for peace:

People around the world work hard to stop wars and help countries get along.

We want a world where everyone can live peacefully and happily.

Children can make a difference:

Even though you're young, you can help create a better world by being kind, understanding, and promoting peace.

Learning about different cultures and making friends from around the world helps build a more peaceful future.

Always adapt the explanation based on the child's age, level of understanding, and emotional readiness. Encourage questions and be prepared to offer reassurance. 

  What they hear:

Children listen in and catch parts of what is being talked about between others and on the various media presentations. Here are some words and concepts that you might want to bone up on yourself and share the meanings you understand with your children.

War:

- Describes the conflict between countries or groups.

Conflict Resolution:

-Highlights the findings of peaceful solutions to disagreements.

Negotiation:

-Emphasizes the need for talking and compromising instead of fighting.

Peace:

- Represents the ideal state of harmony and lack of conflict.

Diplomacy:

-Involves discussions and negotiations between countries to avoid war.

Understanding Differences:

-Encourages the idea that people may have different opinions but can still get along.

Global Co-operation:

-Emphasizes the cooperation of countries working together for a better world.

Empathy:

- Involves understanding and sharing the feelings of others, promoting compassion.

Humanitarian Efforts:

- Represents actions taken to alleviate suffering and promote human welfare during conflicts.

Building a Better World:

- Encourages positive actions, kindness and efforts to create a more peaceful and harmonious world.


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Colcannon (Irish Mashed Potatoes) and 3 Ethnic Take-Offs

Colcannon is a lovely Irish traditional mix of boiled cabbage or kale along with a root vegetable, usually mashed potatoes, but sometimes turnip, or carrots. Leaks and/or onions, and garlic, are pretty popular additions. Chopped green onions, chives and/or parsley are often used as a stirred-in garnish. You will also find 3 other Colcannon-type recipes-- take-offs of cultural classics with potatoes and greens from Mexico, Zambian and Ukrainian are sure to delight you as well when you want to try something a little different. These are all delicious, healthy comfort foods! I am vegan, so all of the recipes are vegan colcannon-- no dairy butter or milk involved. The following are ingredients in the colcannon I made (Missing from the picture are water, garlic, pepper, oil, and fine sea salt): Lovely Colcannon: potatoes, cabbage, leaks, green onions, and parsley INGREDIENTS (2-4 servings) 3 T.   (30 mg)  Olive Oil (or water, or coconut oil) 1/2 Cabbage , shredded ...

Pan-Fry Carrots (Roast Carrot Sticks)

Pan-roasted carrots (with some potato fries mixed in) Our younger son--at one time in the life he styled as "Nomad Farmer"-- lived and grew organic vegetables, fruit and berries on an off-grid community farm in the interior of BC.  We stopped in to see him the one time and came away with a load of over-wintered carrots, still as carrot-y flavoured and plump as on the day they were dug from the ground, thanks to the hill-side root crop storage cellar.   Our granddaughters opted for fish and chips today for lunch, and some of the 'chips' were carrot chips.  They are also a great base for a roast carrot soup.  When you roast veggies, you get extra delicious flavour.  You will also find two wonderful recipes for Holiday carrot side dishes-- Maple-glazed roasted carrots with a recipe for a lemony vegan sauce (made with cashews) and Lemon-Herb roasted carrots made with a Pecan Relish recipe, PAN-FRY CARROTS (Roast Carrot Sticks) <more properly ...

Hearty Cream of Tomato - Bean Soup - Vegan, Gluten-Free

If you have only ever eaten Cream of Tomato soup from a can,  this will be a tasty coup for you! Here is another wonderful bean recipe adapted from my fave The Great Vegan Bean Book: More than 100 Delicious Plant-Based Dishes Packed with the Kindest Protein in Town! - Includes Soy-Free and Gluten-Free Recipes! *  .  This creamy tomato-bean soup will fill in the gaps for anyone who feels they just don't have the time or energy to cook up a healthy lunch -- the secret is to pre-cook your beans in a large quantity and freeze them.  Then just assemble your other ingredients and presto, you have a very nutritious base to your lunch in less time than it would take you to order and be served at your typical restaurant. And you will know what is actually IN this soup ! INGREDIENTS: 2 T.      Olive Oil or Vegetable Broth 1/2       Onion , minced 3 cloves Garlic 1 tsp.     Marjoram 1 tsp.     Thyme 1/2 ts...