If war play becomes too stressful for the children or the adults who are supervising the play, however, it may be good to limit the activity. Support routines and normal activities. Regular TV programs are not being shown, adult conversations are dominated by the war, newspapers are covering different news, and many public events have been altered by the events in the Mideast. Children need to know that they will still have birthday parties, the Tooth Fairy will still come, they will still go to school and be expected to follow rules and learn new things, and parents will still hug and kiss them. We all need to escape from the intensity of the war at times, and children need this even more.
Normal routines can help provide an escape.
As adults get caught up in this complex international dilemma and approach the involved situation, children's obvious and simplistic questions and comments may provide insight and guidance. Their wisdom is different from that of adults, but is extremely valuable as part of the total picture. Listen to children and let them teach you. It is likely that many children's political attitudes may be formed for life during this war. It is a major event with important global implications that stirs strong emotion.