Talking with children and young people about conflict

Your children and young people may be concerned or upset by what they are seeing and hearing in the news. Below are resources to help you talk with them about what's happening, as well as places they can go to find out more.

Helping children and young people to learn about the situation

• Newsround is a great source of information. For instance, this helpful video: Israel and Hamas: What's happening?
• From TES and designed for KS3 or KS4 (11 - 14) this lesson plan exploring the war in Ukraine is free to download and can be adapted for use in a youth group setting
• Download this PDF suggesting questions for discussion after watching a news clip together.
• Education resource sharing site Twinkl has over 450 educational activities, including fact files, PowerPoint presentations, mindful colouring, puzzles, photos of Ukrainian landmarks, language help, activity sheets and maps.
• The United Reformed Church offers two free online teaching resources to help children, young people and adults become more involved in mission, global development and social justice. The first, Go With Greta, is for children aged between 5 and 10 and the second, #Connect2 is aimed at those in the 11 to 14 age range.
• And from UNICEF, a Child-friendly guide to the Israel-State of Palestine crisis.

Helping children and young people to talk about worries 

• A video from Newsround, offering advice if you are upset by the news
• An article from NPR: What to say to kids when the news is scary
• Tips from Childline for those worrying about Israel and Gaza
• An article from UNICEF on how to talk to children about the conflict in Ukraine
• What to do if the conflict in the Middle East is impacting your mental health? - an article from YoungMinds.
• How to talk to children about war - an article from Save the Children, with five top tips from a psychologist and child counsellor.
• How to talk with kids about the war in Gaza and Israel - an article from Greater Good Magazine.

Sometimes knowing you can do something helps with anxiety, you might therefore also want to visit the page on helping children and young people to respond and take action.