Events such as wars, natural disasters or political conflicts often dominate news coverage for days on end. Children hear about these topics – through conversations at home, at school or on the internet. However, much of the information is difficult to understand or frightening. How can children be introduced to news in an age-appropriate way?
Introducing children to news
Children should learn to understand the world. However, many news formats for adults are too complex or show images of violence or disasters that can overwhelm children. What’s more, false reports and highly simplified or distorted representations spread quickly on the internet. Information can be shared via social media or messengers in particular without being classified. It is often difficult for children to recognize whether a message is really true.
Age-appropriate guidance is therefore important. Parents can help to classify what they have seen – and select suitable, safe offers.
When it comes to stressful topics such as war or armed conflicts, children need special support and a good understanding from adults.
Child-friendly news on the Internet
There are various news services on the Internet especially for children. They use simple language, clear explanations and do not use particularly distressing images.
Recommended offers:
- logo! (ZDF): The daily news program for children explains current events in an understandable and age-appropriate way. Available on television and online.
- kindersache.de (German Children’s Fund): A participatory site for children with current news, articles and background information on various topics.
- duda.news (Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger): The children’s editorial team publishes current news, an animal ABC, an encyclopedia and interactive content for children.
The children’s search engine fragFINN.de helps to find trustworthy children’s offers on the Internet. The search results are editorially checked and filtered according to age.
News for children as a podcast
Some children prefer listening to the news to watching it. Podcasts can be a good alternative. Especially when images of crises or disasters could be stressful.
Recommended podcasts:
- MausZoom (WDR): A news podcast that explains individual topics step by step.
- neuneinhalb (WDR): A socio-political reporter magazine for children and young people with background reports on current topics.
- Children’s news (NDR Info): A weekly news overview for children aged 9 and over. The podcast explains important events in an understandable way.
- logo! to go (ZDF): The podcast for the TV show “logo!” summarizes important topics.
News formats for young people
Young people often find information via social networks. News appears there in the feed between entertainment videos, memes or posts by influencers. As a result, it is not always immediately clear whether information comes from a journalistic editorial team or is merely a personal opinion.
Reputable offers therefore try to reach young people directly on the platforms they use anyway.
Examples:
- funk (ARD/ZDF): The content network for young people publishes journalistic formats on YouTube, Instagram or TikTok, for example Deutschland3000, STRG_F and MrWissen2Go.
- nicetoknow (WDR): A news format on TikTok that was developed together with young people.
- tagesschau on Instagram: The ARD news editorial team publishes short videos and easy-to-understand summaries of current topics.
- mitmischen.de (German Bundestag): The Bundestag’s youth portal explains politics, reports on parliamentary topics and offers its own reports.
How parents can provide support
Even child-friendly news can be unsettling. Some children react curiously, others quickly become worried. It is not only the media on offer that is decisive, but also the guidance provided by adults.
- Talk about what you have seen: Ask your child what they have understood and what questions remain unanswered. Explain the background as calmly and clearly as possible.
- Watch or listen to the news together: This allows you to categorize content and provide support with difficult topics. Don’t leave the news on all the time, too much news can overwhelm children.
- Take fears seriously: Children find it difficult to assess whether an event is far away or dangerous for them personally. Explain to your child exactly what has happened and whether it has an impact on their everyday life. It often helps children to know that many people are working to solve problems or help.
- Explain what false reports are: Show your child that not everything that is spread online is true. Compare several sources together and talk about the difference between facts and opinions.
- Talk about AI contentImages, videos and texts created using artificial intelligence are increasingly appearing on the internet. Some look deceptively real, even though they are made up. Your child should learn to question such content critically.
- Let young people have their say: Talk about social media channels, influencers and news offerings. Interest and exchange help young people to better classify information.
