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Apr 2003 Children and War Information Sheet |
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Used with permission from War and children - Child and Youth Health
War and media images of war bring fears and unease to everyone, no matter how far they may be from the conflict. The closer to home the war or threat of war is, the bigger the impact on children and adults. Within Australia, which has so far been protected from close encounters with these events, there is the added impact of the loss of community feelings of safety and security. There is much that parents and other adults can do to help children and young people to deal with the fears and anxieties that war brings. Children and young people need to know that they are safe and that the people who care for them are safe.
Give information
- Children will pick up on the media images and conversations and feelings of the people around them and the adults they depend on.
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If you do not talk to your children and answer their questions they will imagine what is happening and what they imagine may be worse than the reality.
Protect young children
- It is important to protect young children from the impact of media images and from adult anxieties.
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Young children do not really understand the political and values basis for war or peace and respond to what they see and hear and feel.
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Media images can be particularly frightening because young children do not have an understanding of space and time differences and the media brings things close and shows vivid pictures of pain and destruction
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Young children also do not understand that a repeated image of a particular event is not an image of repeated events – they can think that it is happening over and over again
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Adults usually want to keep in touch with what is going on, however it is best to watch the TV war news when young children are not around, or listen to the radio which is less likely to distress them.
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Be aware of the presence of young children when you are talking about your feelings with other adults, as children will be most affected by parents' anxieties and worries.
Talk with older children
- Older children and young people will be involved in discussion and hearing about war from the media, from their friends and possibly from teachers.
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If they watch TV programs about war make sure that you are watching with them to talk about issues and feelings. If they seem to be getting over-worried or pre-occupied by this try to involve them in other activities.
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They will have heard lots of viewpoints and information some of it wrong or out of perspective.
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It will assist them to have some understanding of what is happening as well as to be able to talk with you about their feelings.
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Children and teenagers can be very vulnerable and fearful and need parents' support even if they sometimes don't admit it. Share your feelings and beliefs but try to do it as calmly as possible.
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Use language appropriate to their age and give basic information that they need without going into the more frightening or complex aspects.
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If children do not talk to you about it, offer opportunities. Choose a time such as bedtime chat time and ask something like “What are you thinking about the war?”
Facts, feelings and values
- Your young children are most likely to express fears and to need reassurance that the war is a long way away (if this is true) and that you will protect them.
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Find out about the things your children are worried about eg germ warfare, so you can give them information in perspective about how likely it is to happen to them and the precautions that are being taken to protect the community.
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Make sure that there is time to be together and listen. You don't have to have all the answers. Being with children and understanding their fears helps them to feel better. Just a hug will give support and warmth.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 27 September 2005 )
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