How to help your child succeed at school

Talking to your child about world conflicts can be challenging, but it's important to help them understand the complex issues that affect our world. Here are some tips to guide you in this conversation:

 

Choose the Right Time and Place: Find a quiet, comfortable setting where you and your child can talk without distractions. Timing is important; choose a time when both of you are relaxed and able to focus.

 

Assess Your Child's Understanding: Before launching into a discussion about world conflicts, gauge your child's existing knowledge and beliefs. Ask open-ended questions to understand their perspective.

 

Use Age-Appropriate Language: Tailor your language to your child's age and comprehension level. Avoid using complex terms and jargon. Instead, use simple, concrete language that they can understand.

 

Stick to the Basics: Provide a basic overview of the conflict, its history, and key players. Avoid overwhelming them with too many details, statistics, or disturbing images.

 

Encourage Questions: Let your child ask questions freely. Be prepared to answer, but if you don't know the answer, it's okay to say, "I don't know, but I'll find out." Encourage critical thinking and curiosity.

 

Emphasize Empathy: Help your child understand the human side of conflicts by sharing stories of the people affected. Encourage empathy by discussing the suffering and challenges people face.

 

Highlight Peaceful Solutions: Discuss the importance of peaceful resolutions to conflicts and the role of diplomacy and international organizations like the United Nations.

 

Avoid Blame and Bias: Be mindful of your own biases and try to present a balanced view of the situation. Encourage your child to think critically and form their own opinions.

 

Stay Positive: While discussing difficult topics, emphasize the positive actions people are taking to address the conflict and promote peace. Share stories of individuals or organizations making a difference.

 

Limit Exposure to Graphic Content: In the age of the internet, children can easily access graphic and distressing content. Encourage responsible internet use and set up parental controls to limit their exposure.

 

Be Reassuring: Assure your child of their safety and that they can always come to you with their concerns. Reiterate that there are many people and organizations working to create a safer world.

 

Follow Up: World conflicts are ongoing, so periodically check in with your child to see if they have more questions or if there have been any developments in the situation that they'd like to discuss.

 

Remember that children may not fully grasp the complexities of global conflicts, and that's okay. Your goal should be to provide them with a foundation of understanding and compassion, as well as an open channel for further discussions as they grow and learn.

 

Laura Leung

Teaching and Learning