Are your kids curious about the general election?

Children are likely to have lots of questions about the upcoming election - what it all means, who the key players are, what their parties want. They may not get a vote, but it's important for them to understand what's happening so they feel empowered to get involved when their time comes.

More than this, understanding democracy and its core values is a huge opportunity. It's a chance to inspire our children and show them that coming together, debating topics, and campaigning for what you believe in can really make a difference. Plus it's a great time to help teach them important life skills, such as learning how to debate or spot fake news.

Fill in a few short details below and both of our special election guides will be emailed to you.

A message from our editorial director

The news this week on the escalating conflict between Hamas and Israel has been very difficult to see, hear and read about. We have reported on it in this week’s issue, so I want to take the opportunity to reassure you that the editorial team have taken great care to explain events carefully and accurately whilst sparing our young readers from details they could find distressing.

We know that many children have questions about what's happening so, to help you prepare for those sensitive conversations, we’re offering a preview of our report and a resource we’re providing for readers in the same issue, to help them handle the feelings they have in response to news like this.

Here’s a link to the report in our previous issue

Here's a link to the big news report in our current issue

Here's a link to the UK response in our current issue

Here’s a link to the resource written for children

We’ve also put together some tips to help you talk to them – I hope they are useful.

Acknowledge how they’re feeling

It's important to acknowledge your child’s feelings and give them the time and space to express them. Feeling angry, sad and worried is normal, and letting children talk about their response to these events will help them to process their emotions. You can tell them that you feel sad too and so do a lot of other people, so they are not alone. If a child finds it difficult to explain how they’re feeling then you could suggest writing or drawing instead. If they feel angry, taking some exercise can help.

Don’t avoid difficult questions
Don’t be tempted to change the subject. If you avoid answering children’s questions there’s a risk they’ll seek the information they need online, which could expose them to graphic reports and images as well as disinformation. Address their questions honestly and sensitively. Reassure them you will do your best to explain what they need to know. If there is a question you do not know the answer to, it’s ok. You can explain that it’s a complex situation and there aren’t easy answers, but many people are working to find solutions and end the conflict.

Focus on the helpers
There are many charities, organisations and individuals working in the region to help victims. If your child wishes to do something to help, they could consider donating pocket money or fundraising for charities such as the Red Cross and Save the Children who are providing support to people in both territories.

Remind them to be kind
Many families – perhaps including your own – will have relatives and friends, or belong to communities, who are directly affected by events in the Middle East. The conflict has a long and complex history and there are strong emotions on all sides. Remind children to be kind and respectful to others and not repeat anything that could be hurtful or upsetting.

I hope you find this information helpful. We’ve written some tips for children too. You can read them together here.

With best wishes,

Anna Bassi
Editorial director, The Week Junior

How does climate change make you feel?

If news of melting glaciers and oil spills makes you upset or angry, this is a normal reaction called climate anxiety. Here's what you need to know about climate change and how you can turn feelings of fear into positive action.

What is climate change?

Climate change means changes in long-term weather patterns, including rising temperatures that are known as global warming. Human activities, such as burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas, contribute to climate change and cause extreme events like wildfires and floods. This risks the lives of humans, animals and plants. Scientists say these events will get worse unless people around the world work together.

What is climate anxiety?

These threats to our planet can seem overwhelming, and can make you feel frightened, angry, upset or hopeless. This is a normal, healthy response called climate anxiety, says Dr Elizabeth K Haase, an expert on the mental-health impacts of climate change. She tells The Week Junior, “If you feel worried about what’s happening to the world, good for you. It’s normal to be upset when things you care about are getting hurt.”

How can I feel better about the future?

No-one can fix climate change on their own, but we can all play a part. Haase believes there are lots of things you can do to help adults take better care of the world. “Turn your fear into power by doing something,” she says. Breaking the problem into bite-sized chunks is a good way to start. Think of something you feel passionate about, such as protecting marine life or saving forests, and join a community group or charity that supports that cause.

Positive action can inspire others too.

Sisters Amy and Ella Meek from the charity Kids Against Plastic have picked up 90,000 pieces of plastic. They ask schools, businesses and councils to follow their lead. Tell friends and family what you’re up to, and encourage them to join in. Local charities like Plastic Free North Devon organise beach cleans, and the Rainforest Alliance has lots of planet-saving ideas, such as reducing food waste.

For even more ideas on how you can make a difference, visit our sister magazine Science+Nature's website to discover 10 essential suggestions for how you can be an earth hero. Remember - millions of small actions add up to big changes. It’s time to take a stand to save the planet and the time to start is now!

A message from our editorial director

Hello to The Week Junior community,

We know that many children have questions about what's happening in Ukraine and that they are likely to find the news upsetting. Here are a few tips for handling these sensitive discussions.

Acknowledge how they’re feeling.

It's important to acknowledge your child’s feelings and give them the time and space to express them. Feeling angry, sad, and worried is normal, and letting children talk about their response to these events will help them to process their emotions. You can tell them that you feel sad too and so do a lot of other people. If a child finds it difficult to explain how they’re feeling then you could suggest writing or drawing instead. If they feel angry, taking some exercise can help.

Look at a map together

Show them where Russia and Ukraine are. Explain that many countries around the world, including the UK, do not support this action and are taking steps to stop the conflict.

Don’t avoid difficult questions

Children need to know that they are taken seriously so it’s important to address their questions honestly and sensitively. You can say that although it can be difficult to talk about events like this, it is vital that people do and that you will do your best to tell them what they need to know. If there is a question you do not know the answer to, explain that it’s a complex situation and there aren’t always easy answers, but many people are working to find solutions and end the war.

Focus on the helpers

From the countries and charities sending food and supplies to the people taking in refugees, there are lots of examples of people who are helping those affected by the war. Let your child know that they can help too – see our suggestions below.

I hope you find this information helpful. We’ve written some tips for children too. You can read them together here.

With best wishes,

Anna Bassi

The Week Junior’s mission is to help children make sense of the world by explaining news and current affairs clearly and sensitively. That mission is more important now than ever. "The Covid-19 outbreak is by far the most serious event that we have covered," says the magazine's Editor-in-chief, Anna Bassi, "and we take our responsibility very seriously.”

“The editorial team is committed to providing readers with the information that they require, along with the reassurance that they need at this uncertain time. To ensure that we give our readers what they need, the team follow five simple rules:

1. We ask the questions that our readers will ask – and find the answers to them.
2. We focus on the known facts, check them carefully and avoid speculation.
3. We consider what level of detail our readers really require – we don’t dumb things down but we never dwell on anything too distressing.
4. We provide reassurance by reporting on positive action – the people who are helping, the acts of kindness, gratitude for the bravery of others.
5. We make sure that the magazine provides a balanced and inspiring mix of stories, ideas and information – Covid-19 may be dominating our lives at the moment, but it’s critical to ensure children have other things to think about too.

We’ll continue to cover Covid-19 in the magazine, and we promise to do so carefully, responsibly and in a way that will make sense to our young readers. We will endeavour to keep our readers up to date with the measures being taken to limit the spread of the virus. However, we have taken a decision to avoid dwelling on escalating infections and death tolls – we know these numbers are likely to rise for some time. Instead, while we will continue to chart the course and impact of the pandemic, our stories will continue to focus on the incredible efforts being made by scientists, medical staff, essential workers and members of the public to care for those who are ill and to provide kindness, help and protection to all.

We are trying to support parents too. We’ve set up an activity hub with plenty of projects to keep kids busy and we have created a webpage for children that answers their questions about coronavirus. We thank you for trusting us to do this and hope that our magazine is helping them to stay positive during this difficult time."

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For most children, the start of a new school year is a mixed bag of excitement and nerves. But with the background anxiety of a global pandemic, and ongoing lockdown restrictions, returning to school in 2020 feels a lot more challenging.

Coronavirus and the subsequent lockdown has thrown our lives up in the air. Closed schools and limited contact with friends and family mean parents have had to become teachers, entertainers and counsellors. Children’s education has not only depended on what schools can provide remotely and individual learning needs, but also the time, resources and teaching skills of their parents.

While many will be relieved and excited to be back inside a classroom, some families may worry about catching up on lost learning, and the impact returning to school will have on children’s physical and mental health.

“A certain amount of anxiety is completely normal,” says Dr Cyra Neave, a Senior Clinician in the Schools Outreach Team at the Anna Freud Centre. “For some children, a return to school after such a long break will bring up a lot of worries. I would encourage parents to normalise, listen to and acknowledge their child’s worries, alongside helping them to prepare for the return.”

So how can parents prepare children for the new school year, and support their return to the classroom?

Safety in schools

The government has made it clear that all UK children need to be back at school this September. Detailed school guidelines list safety measures like hand-washing stations, grouping pupils into ‘bubbles’ where possible, and staggered start and finish times. Along with the NHS Test and Trace system, which works at a local level to help keep the spread of Covid-19 under control, these measures will create a safer school environment for pupils and staff.

Despite this, children and parents may still worry that increased contact with others means an increased risk of catching Covid-19, and passing it on to loved ones like grandparents. YoungMinds recommends talking to your child about practical ways to stay safe at school, such as washing their hands before and after eating.

You can also plan the school run. Walking, cycling or driving is safer than public transport, but if this isn’t possible then talk about reducing risk on buses and trains. For example respecting other people’s space, and avoiding touching their own face or eating snacks.

Clear communications

Your school should communicate clearly how classes will work in the new school year, but don’t be afraid to ask questions if you’re unsure. Many schools will also share videos and photos of the new classrooms and playgrounds to reduce any confusion and anxiety. Take time to go through this with your child, and reassure them that their school is doing its best to keep everyone safe.

“Throughout the holidays, school management teams, site staff and teachers are preparing for the new term and the return to classroom-based learning,” says Beth, a primary school teacher in Surrey. “As parents, we need to trust our schools and teachers to keep our children as safe as possible. As a teacher, I do not want to get ill, nor do I want to see a return to remote learning.”

Busy spaces

Most pupils will adapt quickly to the new school routine. However some children will feel anxious about returning to a busy space, especially if they’ve had limited contact with the outside world because a family member has been shielding, or if they’re starting a new school.

“Talk them through how school might be a bit different when they return,” says Dr Neave, “and explain that these changes are there to keep them safe. It is okay not to have all the answers, and modelling how to manage feelings of uncertainty will be really helpful for children and young people during this time.”

Social media has kept us connected during lockdown, but an endless feed of Covid-19 news and opinions can also fuel fear. Try and limit your child’s screen time (yours too, if it helps) and instead talk openly about what’s happening, giving honest answers to questions. Use words and explanations your child can understand, and suggest actions they can take to help keep everyone safe, like not sharing pens or pencils.

It’s natural for parents to feel worried too, and Dr Neave says we need to recognise our own anxieties. “Finding ways of looking after yourself, and helping yourself to manage your own worries, will play a key role in helping to support your child.”

Catching up

The impact of lockdown on education is a huge concern for many parents and pupils. Children who were home-schooled during lockdown haven’t had – for all kinds of reasons – the same level of teaching they receive in school. This has particularly affected children from disadvantaged backgrounds, who may also have missed the emotional support and structure that schools can provide.

Teachers will be working hard to help pupils catch up. “We’re all aware we’ll be working with pupils who worked consistently throughout the term, alongside those who struggled to do anything at all,” says Clare, a secondary school teacher in Lancashire. “So we’re looking at how we can provide catch-up opportunities for students that need it, as well as building effective home learning resources in case pupils need to isolate, or the school has to lockdown.”

The government’s National Tutoring Programme will also help schools address the impact of school closures, by funding additional support for children who have missed out the most. If you’re particularly worried about your child’s learning during lockdown, ask your school what extra help they can provide.

Parents can help children prepare for lessons by establishing term-time routines. Being off school for months may mean normal bedtimes have gone out the window, so reset healthy sleeping patterns. If picking up a pen is a strange experience, encourage your child to write a story, draw a picture, or do word or number games to get their brains back in gear.

Looking forward

The campaign group Sept for Schools has recorded 1,700 parents’ home-schooling experiences and firmly believes children need to go back. “The best place for most children is in the classroom,” it says. “School provides so many things: structure and routine, social interaction, a stimulating learning environment, consistency and it often promotes good health and wellbeing.”

Nothing is zero risk, and sending our children to school in these strange times is a worry for us all. But children are generally very resilient, and with effective safety measures and good communication in place, we need to trust it’s a risk worth taking. It’s important to help children develop hope and a sense of excitement for the future. The current situation won’t last forever, and any scared or anxious feelings children have can change.

Top tips

• Try and normalise the idea of going back to school. Focus on the positives like seeing old friends and learning new things.
• Practice familiar school routines, including earlier bedtimes and fixed mealtimes.
• Establish good hand washing and social distancing habits.
• Rehearse the school run to plan the safest route.
• Count down the days with a mindfulness calendar to help keep nerves under control.

Send them back to school asking questions

The Week Junior sparks children’s natural curiosity by making learning fun. It gets them back into a questioning frame of mind so they’re ready to hit the new school year running. Our skilfully curated news pages help children learn vital skills for school, such as developing critical thinking, learning how to debate a topic and forming their own opinions.

Give your child the best possible start to the new school year

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Links and resources

The Anna Freud Centre: https://www.annafreud.org/coronavirus-support/support-for-parents-and-carers/

Gov website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools#contents

NHS Test and Trace: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/nhs-test-and-trace-if-youve-been-in-contact-with-a-person-who-has-coronavirus/

YoungMinds website: https://youngminds.org.uk/blog/supporting-a-child-returning-to-school-after-lockdown/#

Septforschools: https://www.septforschools.org/

Mindfullness: https://mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/media/2026/mindfulness-calendar-daily-5-minute-activities.pdf

This week’s issue of The Week Junior includes a report on the death of George Floyd and the protests that have followed. It is also the subject of our front cover.

The footage of Floyd’s death and of the protests – some violent – are hard to avoid. Although we have been extremely careful in our choices of words and pictures for our report, children may find it upsetting and are likely to have some questions about what they have read, seen and heard.

Here are a few tips to help you do this, from Editor-in-chief, Anna Bassi:

• Acknowledge how they are feeling. It’s important to acknowledge your child’s feelings and give them the time and space to express them. Feeling angry, sad, and worried is normal, and letting children talk about their response to these events will help them to process their emotions. You can tell them that you feel upset too and so do a lot of other people. If a child finds it difficult to explain how they’re feeling then you could suggest writing or drawing instead. If they feel angry, taking some exercise can help.
• Don’t avoid difficult questions. Children need to know that they are taken seriously so it’s important to address their questions honestly and sensitively. You can say that although it is sometimes difficult to talk about events like this, it is vital that people do and that you will do your best to tell them what they need to know. If there is a question that you do not know the answer to, explain that it is a complex situation and that there aren’t always easy answers or simple solutions, but that there are a lot of people who are working to stop the same thing happening again.
• Provide some context. Help them to understand why people are so angry by talking about race and racism. Explain that racism is treating a person badly or unfairly because of the colour of their skin, culture or country of birth. There are lots of good books for children about race and racism, including What is race? Who are racists? Why does skin colour matter? And other big questions. by Claire Heuchan and Nikesh Shukla. The charity Childline has information for children about racism and racial bullying on their website, as well as advice for anyone who has been treated badly because of their race.
• Remind them that most police officers do not do bad things. Make sure that they know that the police officer in this case has been sacked, arrested and faces punishment. They should be reassured that the majority of police officers take their duty to protect the public very seriously and are committed to stamping out racism. Here in the UK, the National Police Chief’s Council made a statement saying “We will tackle bias, racism or discrimination wherever we find it."
• Explain that protests can lead to positive change and that, despite what they may have seen on the news, most protests are peaceful. Protests are an important way for people to make their voices heard and to draw attention to wrongdoing and injustice. There are plenty of examples of protests – including the Civil Rights Movement in the US during the 1950s and 1960s – that have led to positive change. Today, there are many people in the US and around the world who are working to bring an end to racism and inequality and these protests will help that to happen.
• Tell them that they can play a part. In situations like this, it is easy for a child to feel powerless so make sure they know that their voice matters too. Encourage children to stand up for anyone who they think has been treated badly because of their race and tell them to speak up if they experience or witness injustice.

We hope you find this helpful. We have also created some tips especially for young people. They can be found at theweekjunior.co.uk/TWJ-Protests

You can read the report in this week’s issue here

Every issue of The Week Junior aims to help children make sense of the world. We cover the most important events and news stories in the magazine every week, and we promise to do so carefully, responsibly and in a way that our young readers can easily digest and understand. We are proud to bring young readers intelligent, entertaining and balanced content and we thank you for trusting us to do this and hope that our magazine is helping them to stay informed and positive throughout difficult times.

If you don't already subscribe, you can try your first 6 issues for free - there’s never been a more relevant time for children to become part of The Week Junior community.

This week’s issue of The Week Junior includes a report on the protests that have erupted across the US and elsewhere in the world. Many of the protests are peaceful but some have been violent. Images of these clashes, as well as the tragic event that led to the unrest, are upsetting and it is natural for you to feel angry, sad or worried about them. Here are some tips to help you deal with your thoughts and feelings.

At times like this it is important to remember:

• You are not alone. People all over the world are horrified and outraged by what happened to George Floyd, and upset by the violence that has followed. The fact that you are worried or upset by what’s happened is a natural reaction.
• Many people including world leaders and politicians, as well as members of the public, are working hard to bring racism, injustice and inequality to an end. Everyone, everywhere has an equal right to life, opportunity and justice. You can do your part by standing up for anyone who you think has been unfairly treated because of their skin colour or race.
• Bottling up your feelings can make them overwhelming, so if you are upset, talking about your feelings to a parent or a trusted adult will make you feel better. If you don’t feel like confiding in someone, try writing down how you feel instead, or draw a picture to express your emotions. If you are feeling angry it can help to do some exercise.
• Educate yourself. Learning more about race and racism will help you to make sense of what is happening. Everyone needs to learn, think and talk about racism in order to stop events like this happening again. There are lots of books for children that will answer some of the questions you may have. A good one to start with is What is race? Who are racists? Why does skin colour matter? And other big questions. by Claire Heuchan and Nikesh Shukla. The charity Childline has information about racism and racist bullying on their website as well as advice for anyone who has been treated badly because of their race.
• Think positive. Remind yourself of times when you have felt happy or something that makes you smile, or do something that will take your mind off it. Reading a book, drawing a picture, playing a game, riding your bike or even just getting out in the garden will force you to think about something different. There are lots of inspiring news stories in The Week Junior about people who are being kind and doing good.

IF YOU NEED HELP

It’s normal to feel sad or worried for a little while after hearing bad news but if you are having trouble sleeping or your feelings are affecting how you behave or making you feel unwell then make sure you ask for help. Make sure that you talk to a parent or an adult you trust if you are unhappy or anxious about what you are hearing and seeing. If you don’t feel able to talk to a parent or a teacher about this, charities such as Childline, the NSPCC and Young Minds will be able to offer expert advice and guidance.