How to Talk to Kids about the Conflict in Sudan

It breaks my heart that I got to enjoy a two-week vacation with my family in upstate New York, while the Sudanese continue to suffer. Britt Hawthorne brought the recent events to my attention. I read the article that she recommended and took action. I also want to figure out how to talk to kids about the conflict in Sudan. If we are going to raise leaders of tomorrow, we have to continually help them understand both the beauty and the atrocity in the world.

According to Montessori theory, children shift from “The Absorbent Mind” to the “Reasoning Mind” around six years of age. In the first six years, we want to immerse them in the beauty of the world so they develop deep trust and appreciation. We want them to feel secure deep down in their core. Once they cross the threshold into the Reasoning Mind, they become obsessed with fairness. It’s the perfect time to start conversations about injustice in the world. They start the process of figuring out their “Cosmic Tasks” in the world.

Henry is 8 years-old, and Tate is almost 6. I want to make sure that we are regularly helping them understand what’s going on in the world. Also, we want to support them to take action.

I googled “How to Talk to Kids about the Conflict in Sudan.” Unfortunately, not much came up. Here’s my attempt to put some resources together, in case it’s helpful:

Resources: How to Talk to Kids about the Conflict in Sudan

Kid Encyclopedia Entry

This encyclopedia entry covers basic facts about Sudan.

Summary of the Conflict

I won’t read this summary to my children. Instead, I will use it to verbally summarize for them what’s happening. I don’t want this experience to feel like “school” to them. I want them to feel like they are being brought up to speed about what’s happening.

Video about Displaced Children in South Sudan

This ~3-minute video features children in a refuge camp. They talk about the atrocities they are experiencing and what kind of help they need.

History of Imperialism

When we talk about “problems in Africa” with our children, it’s important that they understand imperialism. They have to understand the ways in which domination, oppression, and greed negatively impacted the continent of Africa and its many countries. This resource is good for adults to familiarize themselves with before talking with children.

Ways to Help

I’m hoping that our conversations about this issue inspire the boys to want to take action. Both the Elle article and the Fast Company articles linked above list ways to help.

It’s interesting to think about how my approach to how to talk to kids about the conflict in Sudan would be different if I were doing it as an educator versus a parent. When children are at home, they don’t want their life to feel like school. I think the way to go is to just educate myself about it and bring it up in conversation with my boys. Then I will have resources at the tips of my fingers if they show interest in learning/doing more. If they don’t take any interest it in, Matt and I can continue to talk about it and take action in front of them.