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Conflict and Children
January 21, 2013
If you think you can, you can. And if you think you can't, you're right.
-Mary Kay Ash
-Mary Kay Ash
In the World Forum Foundation publication, From Conflict to Peace Building: The Power of Early Childhood Initiatives — Lessons from Around the World, editors Paul Connolly and Jacqueline Hayden discuss some of the impacts of war and armed conflicts on children:
"...Violence can easily become a routine and normalised part of children's lives. This can be seen, for example, in relation to a number of studies that have reported how children tend to recreate the violence that surrounds them in their play. Observational studies conducted in South Africa have found that 'police raid games' were prevalent in children's games, while in Northern Ireland it has been reported that children as young as four or five 'were spending considerable time erecting barricades in their playgrounds and pretending to throw petrol bombs.'
"However, rather than seeing such activities as important ways young children are attempting to explore and make sense of the conflict that surrounds them, anecdotal evidence suggests that a tendency exists for adults to stop such games for fear of how they may look or where they may lead. This, in turn, tends to be part of a general silence that children experience in relation to the events surrounding them whereby little opportunity is provided for them to explore what they have seen and to express feelings about it.... Not having the opportunity to make sense of what is happening around them can simply increase children's sense of powerlessness and vulnerability."
This book contains stories of hope and encouragement, and just what early childhood practitioners can do and achieve in the face of adversity. Contained are chapters from Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Chad, Colombia, Nepal, Northern Ireland, Palestine, and the United States. From Conflict to Peace Building shows us that it is possible to make a real difference in the lives of children and families in societies affected by conflict.ExchangeEveryDay
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Comments (4)
Displaying All 4 CommentsFort Collins, CO, United States
This makes me think about children whose parents are off keeping peace or fighting a war in the military. Much work in our community has focused on using the Environment rating scales which has a component to remove violence from the classroom. Books, materials and electronic media being the main target of scrutiny. On the surface this seems to have great intent until you see it translated in action and children are not allowed the very opportunites described in this article. How powerful to allow children to try and make sense of the world and perhaps have skillful adults to assist them, when they are ready, to a place of reflection and probelm solving.
United States
I recall creating a dramating play theme area as the result of children "playing jail". It was in response to one child's need for support as his father remained imprisoned. This occasionally continued in other semesters. But the thought of adults deliberately establishing a room space in preschool for this activity would never have occured in all probability. Staff "got arrested" too. It was a time of learning and dialogue for ALL.
United States
I believe the focus of this article is on the current activity of the children. What educators can do, as facilitators, is introduce alternative ways to find solutions to the problem/the reason for children acting out the acts of war.
Provide them with appropriate detail as to why there is a war and why war is harmful. Have the children discover ways to find a better solution. Place them in control of their "playful" destiny.
We often teach what we want from children, but do not model it ourselves. Elementarily speaking, if two countries are fighting over land, why not share it, divide it evenly, or let the people of the land decide, democratically speaking.
Just like in a divorce, a debate, or a disagreement between siblings, there is a mediator...that would be the teacher. She/He provokes throught, encourages finding alternative solutions, and find compromise.
Ultimately, we are where we are because we have consistently turned to the negative alternatives when we don't get what we want...personally, intra-nationally, and worldwide. It is how we have operated for years. When we see ourselves as overweight, we over eat in pity or starve ourselves. When we face increasing gun crimes, we blame all gun owners, lawmakers and the media. When a country plans to attack us, we attack back, sticking our chests out and "show-off our abilities."
Now, with as much knowledge and technology out there, and the amount of billionaires, and fraud case, and all other things gone viral, we need to stop, reconsider more creative alternatives, and start a new action plan that diviates from what we have always known.
History teachers would be one of my first line of defenses...what has been done in the past that didn't work? What worked well? Next, gather the creative writers, artisits, and those who think outside the box to form a brainstorming session. Sometimes, it is the littlest guys who we have shaped to think responsibily that will have the solution.
So guide the little guys. Provide them with opportunities to come up with better solutions since the adults are failing them. Afterall, they will one day be our leaders. We need to provide them with the right frame of mind, give them tools for making a difference, and provide them with the encouragement they need to become better than who we are now.
And, put God back in our world. Without him, we suffer.
Spirit Child Yoga and ECE
Aurora, ON, Canada
So powerful. I see teachers stopping any kind of "violent" play. I used to do it too! No unpacking it, talking about it, etc. When a child was having the plastic tiger attack the plastic lion, I'd bring in the plastic leopard and try to suggest we play "going to the park". It never went far. Then I learned more about how children explore good and bad, peace and conflict, complex issues through their play. It is soooo important. Thanks for highlighting this issue today.
I work with kids in Kingston, Jamaica. You bet a see them acting out guns. That's not an issue you can bury or just not talk about and hope it goes away. I also see the same children help each in incredible ways every day.
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