How do you explain all the hate that goes on around the world to kids? My 8-year-old niece recently asked me a series of questions related to war, death, and other topics. Honestly, I did my best to explain lightly. Should I have been more truthful and frank about how different parts of the world work?

I talk about how people are capable of doing good and doing bad, depending on their choices. And the importance of choosing to do good. Basically, the concept of free will. Also, to comfort kids about bad things that happen in the world, I like to quote Mr. Rogers: “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”