In the modern information space, children become active users of the Internet from an early age. They have access to a huge amount of information, including that related to war. However, content related to military operations can cause serious psychological harm to a child. How can parents, guardians and teachers protect children from the negative impact of such content and discuss this topic with them properly?
Risks of military content for children
Children of different ages perceive information differently. Therefore, content about war can cause them fear, anxiety, stress or even re-traumatisation. This is especially true for children who have already experienced direct military events: they may recall explosions, staying in shelters or evacuating. Watching videos of warfare, destruction or news of the dead only reinforces these negative emotions. That is why it is important to understand how to protect your child from such content, as well as how to talk to them about it.
How to talk to children about war
- Open and honest conversation
- The main rule for adults is not to avoid the topic of war, but to approach it with understanding. For younger children, you can explain the events in the form of fairy tales or stories, while older children should be given truthful information, but without unnecessary intimidation. This will help the child not to dwell on the negative and avoid searching for traumatic news on the Internet on their own. Talking about experiences can help reduce stress and anxiety.
- Regulate time and sources of information
- Controlling how much time a child spends on the Internet and selecting trusted sources of news about the war are important measures. Children should not be immersed in an endless stream of disturbing news, so access to such resources should be limited. Parents can help their child choose a few reliable sources that present facts without unnecessary emotional stress.
- Developing critical thinking
- Teaching your child to be critical of information is another important aspect. They should understand that not all information on the Internet is true. To do this, you can use a simple verification algorithm: who is the author of the information, how it is confirmed, and what other sources say about it.
- Balance between military content and positive videos
- Watching only military news can affect a child’s mental state. Therefore, you should also direct their attention to positive materials: videos about nature, animals, favourite bloggers, etc. Psychologists advise that you engage your child in routine activities that they were used to before the war to maintain a sense of stability.
Tips for controlling content
Tell your child about the events at a level appropriate to their age. For younger children, you can explain the situation through fairy tales or simple stories, while for older children, it is important to give real facts without escalating the situation with horrific images or videos. Children need to feel safe and know that they can trust their parents to find and understand information.
Discuss with your child where they get their news and how much time they spend on social media. Provide them with access to several reliable sources that provide verified information about the war to avoid fakes and unnecessary anxiety.
Teach your child to analyse information and recognise fakes. It is important to explain how disinformation campaigns work and why they exist. Use a simple algorithm: who is the author, how the information is confirmed, and what others are saying about the topic.
Help your child find a balance between news about the war and content that brings them joy. It can be videos about animals or videos from favourite bloggers. It is important that the child continues to do the usual things that will help him or her feel at least part of the former ‘normalcy’.
Explain to your child that they should not force themselves to view disturbing content on social media. If they feel bad afterwards, they should unsubscribe from such pages and discuss it with their parents. Open and trusting conversations are the foundation of healthy relationships.
Use the content control options available to parents, such as Instagram filters or Google account guidelines, to monitor how much time your child spends online and what they are viewing.
Every child reacts differently to stressful events, so it’s important to pay attention to their emotional state. If a child seems upset, anxious, or starts avoiding usual activities, you should seek help from specialists – psychologists or psychotherapists who can help your child work through their feelings.
Content about war can have a significant impact on the mental state of children, especially if they have already experienced warfare in real life. The task of parents is to protect their children from an excessive amount of disturbing information and help them maintain emotional balance. Important tools include open conversations, developing critical thinking and controlling access to the Internet. Trust between children and adults is key for children to feel safe and know that they can always ask for support.
