Talking Peace with Kids

Peace is something we long for all year round, really, but it seems to be baked into the holiday season. With current world events, it’s even more prominent in our minds, and at times like these, it feels like it’s in short supply. If it’s difficult for an adult to get their head around a huge concept like peace, we can imagine how a kid feels.

But that doesn’t mean that kids don’t wonder about it, or that they don’t want to talk about it and share their views. They may not be ready to take on the complexities of actual world happenings, kids definitely have a lot to say about peace in general, and it’s never too early to have a conversation about it.  

Here are some age-appropriate questions about peace to get a conversation started: 

o   What does it mean to be peaceful? Does everyone have their own version of peace, or is it something that’s the same everywhere?  

o   Is peace something we make on our own, or do we have to do it all together?

o   Can we make peace last? Do we have to keep working on it all the time?

o   Can peace happen all at once, or do we have to find it little by little?

o   What are some things we can do when it’s peaceful that we can’t do when it’s not?

As with any philosophical idea, these discussions can take a lot of different forms. If your child is an avid reader, there are multitudes of books on the subject, but discussions about peace can also stem from their favourite toys, games, songs, movies, or tv shows. They can draw or sculpt about peace, or even sing, dance, or act it out. It can happen in short bursts too. Give them the opportunity to talk, and listen intently, so that they’ll have time and space to think through things for themselves.

This should be a conversation you share with your child year-round, and for years to come. Start with ideas, and then as they bring up real-world examples, as well as their own experiences, you’ll both have a framework with which to explore it further. If our children are going to have a role in establishing and maintaining peace as adults, it’s vital that they start thinking about it early. Chances are, they’ll find ways to use what they’ve discussed to make their own day to day lives a little more peaceful too.