Talking to Children about Current Affairs

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, images of war are now front and centre across every media outlet across the globe.

Stephen H. Kramer, Chief Executive Officer at Bright Horizons, said: “In these dark moments, we can come together as a community to show that we care by extending compassion and grace to those who need it the most.”

Here are several resources for families to help you feel better equipped and confident to respond well when news reaches your child's line of sight:

• Helping Children Understand The World Around Them
• Talking to Children About Current Affairs - Keep It Simple
• Webinar: Talking to Children & Young People About Current Affairs
• What Happened To My World*
• Explaining War and Global Conflict to Young Children Webinar (Registration Required)

BBC Newsround also provides help and guidance for children to self-serve: Visit BBC

*Originally created by our US team in response to 9/11, and updated in 2020 in response to the pandemic, this “What Happened to My World?” book helps parents and carers understand how children process troubling world events and offers strategies to help children cope. For a specific section that references war, see pages 44-47.