Explaining ISIS and acts of terrorism to nearly 10 year old

[vestandknickers]

My son is nearly 10. He's very bright and a real thinker. He likes to understand things properly and cannot be fobbed off with trite or badly thought out explanations.

I talked to him and his sister about what happened in Paris and they watch Newsround every day so are aware of the vote on bombing Syria. My DD hasn't really shown much interest, but my son keeps asking very detailed questions about why ISIS do the things they do and how they can be stopped. He seems unsettled by the idea of bombing Syria. I admit I'm quite ignorant about these issues. I'm doing my best to answer him, but would like to do better!

Do any of you better informed MNetters know of anywhere that he or I can read about these issues to gain a better understanding?

Thanks for any help with this.

I'd like to know an approach also. My Ds is only 5, and is oblivious, but I know that it is onlya matter of time.... years maybe, but still will need to be faced.

One of my earliest memories is hearing about concentration camps because we had family members die in them. I don't recall being told, just always knowing about them.

There are some very moving and human stories that have been collected by the Humans of New York photographer who has been interviewing refugees in Greece and Syria. They could be a good starting point and give some perspective on the experience of the conflict - though perhaps it doesn't exactly explain the 'why' questions which are very complex even for experts..

There have also been some graphic journalism comic strips on the conflict that might be easier to digest..

www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2015/nov/11/a-perilous-journey-khalids-story-syrian-refugee

alexanderchee.tumblr.com/post/128266657031/yearsoflivingdangerously-this

www.vox.com/2015/11/14/9734536/paris-isis-origins-video

This link is more around the emergence of ISIS with a flashcard slideshow that goes into some of the major points in its growth and evolution without being gruesome or having graphic detail which you might want to avoid..

First news newspaper for kids is really good for this kind of thing. Can't post a link for some reason but try google.

Personally I would make it more of a general discussion about terrorism, that's what I've done with my ten year old. It's important they don't assume all terrorists are Muslim. Like many I was living in London during the last IRA campaign and before that my step-dad was extremely lucky to escape with his life after one of their many bombs in the 1980s. (He was also nearly blown up in the Second World War, it's one of his stories, nearly blown up twice - he's not aiming for a third time).

His questions have focused more on things like: don't we all need to have guns so we can defend ourselves? Shouldn't we stay at home until it's over? (We have several trips to London planned in the next few months and I think he's a bit worried about it). He hasn't really focused on why, I'm not sure there's any real obvious answer to that.

Thanks all for some very good suggestions. Great idea re First News. I used to get it and stopped because the children never read it, but maybe he would now he's showing an interest.

tribpot you've hit on exactly on of my difficulties that I don't want to link Terrorists and Muslims in his mind.

I shall follow up all of these ideas.