As difficult as it might be, carers should not avoid discussing the Hamas-Israel conflict with children, experts have said. Doing so, they warn, could drive young people on to the internet where disturbing disinformation and images are easily found.
Older children might ask if they should stop going to festivals and concerts. “Carers could respond by saying that we’re not going to be terrorised by bad people: we’re still going to do what we feel is right but we are going to look around us and keep our eyes open,” she said. “It’s a powerful role model for children in terms of how to process emotions to say, ‘I’m actually really upset about what’s happening and I don’t know what I’m thinking about it yet or how I’m feeling. It sounds like you’ve got some questions. Let’s come back to this this evening after dinner’,” he said.
When discussing what has happened, he added, try to keep to broad concepts and avoid polarising words and concepts, like good, bad and evil. “That might be incredibly hard, given the emotions involved but those framings don’t ultimately lead to compassion and peace,” said O’Hare.