Create a routine, allow emotional expression and stay calm: this is how children are talked about the security situation

What are the important points to pay attention to when talking to children about the security situation? A new document published by the Ministry of Education, ‘Resource Center’ – a treatment center that provides emergency services to residents of the conflict line on the northern border, and the resilience centers of the Western and Eastern Galilee, helps parents create a healthy conversation with their children about the escalation.

How do you start the conversation with the children?
The conversation should be based on the children’s knowledge, so the conversation should begin by asking about their knowledge. The children’s feelings must be given space in the conversation. For example, don’t use the phrase ‘don’t worry’, but words that remove the emotions, like ‘it’s sad and painful’. During the conversation, a reassuring message should be used about the strength of the army that protects us.

What information to reveal to the children and what to hide from them?
The basic assumption is that you should talk to the children, but in a way adapted to their age. There is no need to hide the reality, and the known facts must be described as much as possible. Exposure to the news should be measured.

I am also scared and stressed about the situation. How to calm down?
The children feel the feelings of the parents verbally and non-verbally, therefore it is necessary to pay attention that during the conversation you are calm yourself.

What else can help children cope with the situation?
Children will be helped if there is a routine. There may be some difficulty during the Passover holiday, i.e. a time ‘out of the ordinary’, but a clear agenda should be planned as much as possible. Besides the conversation, there are other tools that can help the children deal with the situation: give the children a role with responsibility, and create a figure that looks after the members of the household.

For individual advice, you can contact the advisory line of the Ministry of Education by phone 6552* extension 5, or by email. The line will be open all hours of the day.