How do we explain the war to our children and young people?

Question

My 12 years old is increasingly upset about the wars and the role of our country in the world, I do not know what is the right way to handle his concerns in a healthy way. Should I explain? should I
allow him to reach his own conclusions? should I ? I am worried that he may become depressed with so much ugliness going on, and the media does not help, the news are everywhere.

Answer 1

Try not to frighten them, but don't lie to them.

Explain that the world can be a very terrible place sometimes and that people, even powerful leaders, often act out emotionally rather than thinking things through.

Your goal is to help them understand, help them adjust their view of reality to accommodate the fact of violent conflict, help them continue to pursue their own interests, goals and personal development in spite of the madness in the world around them.

There are reasons to believe that the world is getting better, not worse, in spite of the ongoing madness. It takes a longer historical perspective to realize that (the world has always had war, always been violent, always had madness in it). For each individual there is a tendency to think of time beginning with our earliest personal memories. For children this is even more true. What came before us seems unreal. However, learning about history and relating to the human experiences of it can help us get perspective on our own time and see it as less cataclysmic.

If the war scares you, don't hide this from your children, but don't let it paralyze you or show them that fear is something that cannot be brought under control by reason.

Good luck!

Answer 2

That's nuts. Twelve year olds should not be concerned with war or the foreign policy of the US. If you'd said your husband was deployed, that'd be one thing, but otherwise there is little to no reason the public should even notice there is a war going on. There is zero you can do about it & any alternative to what we are doing costs many times more lives than sticking it out. War is a necessary evil conducted by professional folks that volunteered for the job, and if you'll talk to some of them you'll find 90% are highly supportive of the mission. Maybe you could refocus your kid's attention on something a little less serious, like God forbid, baseball.

Answer 3

Hey Im 13 and I get it all. WW3 is about to happen because the adults are going to cause it and we will have to live through the mess!! While the Baby Boomers are retired!! Well Im
from India and trust me America is not exactly famous
here. I mean 9/11 happened and we were with you lot
to the very end but then America gets into Iraq and now
everyone hates America. Thats my conclussion and every young
person can make their own conclussions about how
we are in the brink of difficult times.

Answer 4

Well, he is going to have to learn that the world isn't sugar and chocolate.

Tell him that sometimes war is a necessary evil and we are only trying to give the Iraqis the freedoms that we have.

Also, you should always let him make his own conclusions about how he feels. If he doesn't agree with it then that is fine. If he thinks we are doing good that is fine too. At least you will know that it is his idea and not one that was planted in his brain.

Answer 5

Unfortunately, I have the same fears of explaining this to my young ones, especially since I dont understand it myself, Cant trust the medias of the world, I just try to bring them up as morally correct as I believe is right and hope that they are the true future.....not the hate being taught in the middle east.......

Answer 6

Tell him there are peace loving people also in the world but they live far away from America and that one day he will make it there.

You would need to be honest i guess otherwise the kid might grow into one these teenage morons on Y Ans. who lust for war.