Following President Donald Trump’s announcement of "major combat operations" against Iran on Saturday, strikes have continued in the capital of Tehran with Iran launching retaliation strikes across the Middle East, in what the president has told ABC News could be a weekslong operation.
Here are some tips for parents on how to talk with children about the ongoing conflict.
Watch special coverage on Nightline, "War with Iran," each night on ABC and streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.
Clinical pediatric psychologist Dr. Deidre Donaldson of Gateway Healthcare and Brown University Health in Providence, Rhode Island, told ABC News it’s important for parents to connect with kids to find out what they know, how they are responding to any news, and help them feel as safe and secure as possible.
“There are a lot of ways that kids could come into contact with this ... therefore be prepared and have a plan for what [you] want to say, what [you] want children to know, and keep it on the minimum side of things so as not to overwhelm [them],” Donaldson said.
Donaldson recommends using open-ended and age-appropriate language when approaching this difficult subject with kids, a strategy that can help parents determine what children are aware of and how they’re feeling and reacting.
“Parents could simply [say] ‘How are things going? What's your day like today? What's on your mind?’” Donaldson suggested. “These types of things will solicit lots of different things from children, things you might not expect, and one of which could be what's going on in the world.”
Donaldson noted that parents should expect kids under age 5 to be less aware of the news -- if at all -- and less likely to comprehend the complexity of the situation.
Parents can also check in with kids’ schools and teachers to see what is being discussed in the classroom and follow any suggested guidance and language that is offered.
Donaldson recommends parents practice empathy, explain concepts, limit exposure and emphasize safety for children.
With empathy, parents should “provide openness and really be a listener first and foremost,” she said.
“You're there to be a support to the children and perhaps guide or prompt knowledge in small ways that are tolerable to them at their various ages,” she added.
Donaldson also recommends parents stick to fact-based explanations and provide “the least amount of information necessary to convey what is needed” to prevent overwhelming a child.
This also coincides with kids’ exposure to news about conflicts and war.
“Children are exposed to just a lot of information these days, so limitations help with that,” Donaldson said, adding that "parents can balance the content … productive things that happen in society or in the world, positive things that are promoting safety and positive interactions and kindness are all very good strategies to use."
Donaldson said for parents with teenagers, conversations may be longer and more in depth since they are likely exposed to more information in school, in the media and in the wider community.
After checking in with kids, parents should emphasize to children that they can share their feelings openly and in a safe environment.
“Where can they be safe? Where can they go and get relief from what seems overwhelming and negative?” Donaldson said. “[That can] be in the home or in [the] presence of other friends and family members, maybe they need private space at times throughout the day to feel safe and secure.”
According to Donaldson, parents should watch out for any changes in a child’s day-to-day behavior or changes to any of their regular habits, such as disrupted sleep, waking up more at night, or physical symptoms like stomachaches, headaches or any new symptoms that arise.
Donaldson said parents and caregivers should also pay attention to how long the changes persist.
“If within about three weeks time, [parents] haven't seen changes and it seems to be escalating instead of stabilizing or getting better, we certainly recommend [parents] reach out for help," she said. "And they can do that through their school setting, through their primary care physician [and] look online for available resources.”
Donaldson also recommends parents check reliable resources such as guides from The National Child Traumatic Stress Network.
