How to read the news about India-Pakistan with your kids?

| Read time: 5 minute(s)
How to read the news about India Pakistan with your kids? On April 22nd, On the serene paths of Pahalgam, where the Lidder River whispers through the valley and the mountains stand in silent grace, a day meant for peace was shattered by an act of senseless violence. On April 22, 2025, lives were lost in a brutal terror attack that has left families broken, communities grieving, and a nation mourning. The stories, images and news coming out of the India-Pakistan are terrifying and — in today’s 24-hour news cycle — difficult to ignore. But adults aren’t the only ones exposed to them. And they aren’t the only ones with questions. Kids are hearing about violence, and to not be able to talk about that with someone that they trust — a parent, a teacher, a neighbor — they’ll invent things, they’ll come to their own conclusions. So, it’s better to be honest with kids about what’s happening — in a developmentally appropriate way. For kids — regardless of age but especially the little ones — reassure them that they are safe. There’s a fantastic Mr. Rogers quote: “When bad things happen in the world, look to the caregivers.” There’s an outpouring for the people — for the soldiers as well as the civilians. That’s what we want to show because it’s so hard to talk about countries being at war and people getting killed. Why do we have to go to war? How does religion play a part in it? Talk to kids about how Kashmiris have suffered across years and the rise in antisemitism right now. How do we make sure we don’t fall into the very easy generalization that they’re all bad? How do we not stick with the generalizations that lead us to racism, Islamophobia, antisemitism? For older kids, talk about the ethics of this conflict. How do we protect the people of Kashmir who aren’t part of the problem and how do we get them out of this constant state of fear … there’s so much that’s complicated with that. Let them explore the different perspectives: What are the people of India saying, What are the people of Pakistan saying, What has the governements said, and Why is Pakistani military not representative of all Pakistanis? How do we protect those people who haven’t had a voice in saying who’s going to have power? Experts worry that any retaliation could drag in other countries. The situation is a dangerous jigsaw of competing interests. However, India Prime Minister Narendra Modi has clearly stated to the world that he will “hunt the terrorists down to the end of the world”.

On April 22nd, On the serene paths of Pahalgam, where the Lidder River whispers through the valley and the mountains stand in silent grace, a day meant for peace was shattered by an act of senseless violence. On April 22, 2025, lives were lost in a brutal terror attack that has left families broken, communities grieving, and a nation mourning. 

The stories, images and news coming out of the India-Pakistan are terrifying and — in today’s 24-hour news cycle — difficult to ignore. 

But adults aren’t the only ones exposed to them. And they aren’t the only ones with questions. 

Kids are hearing about violence, and to not be able to talk about that with someone that they trust — a parent, a teacher, a neighbor — they’ll invent things, they’ll come to their own conclusions. So, it’s better to be honest with kids about what’s happening — in a developmentally appropriate way.

For kids — regardless of age but especially the little ones — reassure them that they are safe. There’s a fantastic Mr. Rogers quote: “When bad things happen in the world, look to the caregivers.” There’s an outpouring for the people — for the soldiers as well as the civilians. That’s what we want to show because it’s so hard to talk about countries being at war and people getting killed.

Why do we have to go to war? How does religion play a part in it? Talk to kids about how Kashmiris  have suffered across years and the rise in antisemitism right now.  How do we make sure we don’t fall into the very easy generalization that they’re all bad? How do we not stick with the generalizations that lead us to racism, Islamophobia, antisemitism?

For older kids, talk about the ethics of this conflict. How do we protect the people of Kashmir who aren’t part of the problem and how do we get them out of this constant state of fear … there’s so much that’s complicated with that. Let them explore the different perspectives: What are the people of India saying, What are the people of Pakistan saying, What has the governements  said, and Why is Pakistani military not representative of all Pakistanis? How do we protect those people who haven’t had a voice in saying who’s going to have power?

Experts worry that any retaliation could drag in other countries. The situation is a dangerous jigsaw of competing interests. However, India Prime Minister Narendra Modi has clearly stated to the world that he will “hunt the terrorists down to the end of the world”.

Pahalgham, Kashmir

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