Crisis In Kosovo

For ten year old kids, the world is a small place... their street, their classroom. They feel safe until they turn on the television and see images from a complex, violent war.

Kids watching the hard reality of bombing in Kosovo struggle with how to feel and how to understand. “I just wonder why the Serbs would do it,” says ten year old Maddie. “They don’t really have a reason for it. Why would they call Clinton a murderer when he’s not.” Maddie’s friend Michelle also worries. “It makes me feel not scared really but sad for the people who are being killed,” says Michelle.

Parents are faced with the difficult task of explaining these questions in a way a ten year old can understand.

“Kids today have to grow up so fast with so many kinds of information that we didn’t have to deal with growing up. So while they are more mature from a street wise sense, emotionally, they are still just ten years old,” says Dr. Tony Levitas, licensed psychologist.

It’s important to watch children carefully and shelter them from information that is causing signs of stress like trouble sleeping or eating. Some kids are not mature enough to handle the grim lessons of war.

What Parents Should Know

Young children need special considerations and attention when discussing problems in Kosovo. Experts advise parents to keep kids under seven away from television news. Horrible images and news bulletins that interrupt commercial programs can be especially frightening for a young child.

Small children are more likely to act out their fears through play and other means rather than talking about them. Parents should monitor their child’s activities and watch for any signs of activities. Reassure children that they are safe in the United States and that the pictures they see are far away.

If a child is old enough to handle information about the war, discussion can be educational. It might help to show a child where the fighting is taking place on a map. Parents can also use the war to teach kids about empathy and compassion for others. Encourage conversations about understanding differences and the horrible atrocities that occur when we are not tolerant of others who are different.

Explanations of war are also helpful in teaching children about peaceful ways to resolve conflict.