5 Ways to Talk to Your Kids About Refugees

MAR 30 2020

by Lauren Husband, Communications Team

So, You’re Quarantined… 
Your kids are home for the foreseeable future, and you’re looking for some constructive educational activities to keep them engaged and entertained during the school day.

Volunteering in the community would normally be your go-to, but all group activities are cancelled. What do you do?

Use this opportunity to lay a foundation of empathy and understanding for your children by educating them (and yourself…or the whole family) about refugees!

You want to raise your kids to be caring, global citizens who are compassionate toward people in need, but the subject of refugees is a bit complicated in today’s world. What is the difference between an immigrant, asylum seeker, and refugee? Who decides who is allowed into a country? Why is it important to care for refugees? These questions might be difficult for even an adult to answer.

So, we want to help! We have compiled a list of resources and hands-on activities to help you and your family learn more about refugees and the global refugee crisis. We want to provide you with the resources you need to explain the global refugee crisis in age-appropriate terms and help your kids become informed and empowered to help!

Here are 5 ways that you and your family can learn about refugees together!

1. Write down what you already know about refugees
   • Take inventory of what you’ve heard about refugees. Is it true, false, or somewhere in between? Your kids might know more than you think, or they might have heard something inaccurate!
   • Use age-appropriate words and examples to explain scenarios and concepts, but do your best to keep it simple. It might be beneficial to focus on a few concepts at a time.
2. Learn 5 new facts about refugees
   • Consider the sources of your child’s information. Are they reliable? Do they align with your family’s values?
   • Use markers, poster board, colorful paper, paint, and other fun things to write out your 5 new facts together.
   • Explore websites with reputable information about refugees. Here are a few we recommend:
     • The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is a United Nations agency with the mandate to protect, assist, and resettle refugees, forcibly displaced communities, and stateless people. UNHCR’s website has a great collection of resources for a range of age groups and subject areas. Check out UNHCR’s data sources for news and constantly updated information on the refugee crisis.
     • World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization that partners with children, families, and their communities by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision has a great collection of information about refugees and refugee history.
     • Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, content analysis, and other data-driven social science research. Take a look at the key facts they’ve found about refugees in the U.S. and then explore their other refugee-related research. You can even filter their research by topic and format!
3. Watch a documentary or video Together!
   • We can’t recommend just one documentary or video to watch since the way to discuss the topic of refugees will vary with age and knowledge level, but here are a few video recommendations to get you started:
     • For younger kids…
       • we recommend starting with the video below from The Guardian. Kids from the UK ask refugees basic questions about their life and dreams, which could be a great conversation starter for your family.
       • UNHCR has an awesome Youtube playlist with videos explaining various refugee-related topics in a kid-friendly manner.
     • For older kids and teenagers…
       • documentaries might be a better option to keep them engaged in the subject. Here is a list of 5 powerful movies about refugees on Netflix.
       • if you don’t have Netflix, these movies recommended by PBS Frontline are available to stream for free on Youtube.
       • Please note that the subject matter of these documentaries may be graphic. Make sure you feel comfortable sharing them with your child before you decide to watch.

4. Review what you have learned

• Have your child write a poem or short paper about what you’ve learned or how the new information makes them feel.
• Take a quiz to test your knowledge. Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (Canopy’s mother organization!) has two quizzes— one about refugees and one about asylum seekers.
• RefugeeWeek.org has suggestions for ways that kids utilize their new information, such as sharing refugee stories, listening to refugee-made music, and learning their family lineage. Check out their suggestions here.
• World Vision has a list of five meaningful activities that can help your kids make an impact on the refugee crises.

5. Take action (From home!)

• Help us spread awareness about refugees! Share what you learned on Facebook and Instagram. Make a family video together and put it on YouTube or TicToc! Get creative!
• Give! Talk to your kids about the importance that even a single dollar can have for good.
• Come up with and host a unique fundraiser for Canopy! Are your kids artists? Have a digital art show and sell tickets! Host an online trivia night. Create homemade cards and mail them for a donation! The possibilities are endless.
• Write thank you notes to our elected officials and other influential supporters of refugee resettlement in Arkansas!