When news about refugees and displaced families fills our screens, children naturally have questions. They might ask why some families have to leave their homes, where refugee children go to school, or why people cross dangerous waters to reach safety.
These conversations matter. They shape how the next generation understands displacement, builds empathy, and responds to humanitarian crises. The good news? You don't need to be an expert to talk with your child about refugees—you just need honesty, age-appropriate language, and a willingness to listen.
Why These Conversations Matter Now
Right now, millions of children worldwide have been forced from their homes. According to UNHCR's Global Trends report 2024, children account for 40% of all forcibly displaced people globally—despite making up only 29% of the world's population. That means two in five refugees are children, just like yours.
In the UK, 111,084 people claimed asylum in the year ending June 2025—including thousands of children seeking safety with their families. Many of these young people will join schools and communities across Britain, bringing their stories, resilience, and hope for a better future.
When we help children understand what refugees experience, we're not just teaching compassion—we're building a generation that stands up for human dignity.
Key Facts About Child Refugees
What You Need to Know:
A refugee is someone who has fled their country because of persecution, war, or violence and cannot return safely
Asylum seekers are people waiting for a decision on whether they'll be recognized as refugees
Children under 14 accounted for 13% of UK asylum applications in the year ending March 2025, with teenagers aged 14-17 representing another 6%
Many refugee children arrive having experienced trauma, family separation, dangerous journeys, and the loss of everything familiar
With proper support, refugee children show remarkable resilience and contribute positively to their new communities
Understanding these basics helps you answer your child's questions with confidence and accuracy.
How to Start the Conversation
The best conversations about refugees often begin naturally—sparked by something your child sees on television, hears at school, or encounters in a book. When that moment arrives, your response sets the tone.
Keep it simple and honest. You might say: "A refugee is someone who had to leave their home because it wasn't safe anymore. They're looking for a place where they and their family can be protected."
Follow their lead. Let your child's questions guide the depth of your conversation. A five-year-old asking "Why did they leave?" needs a different answer than a 13-year-old asking about asylum policies.
Acknowledge feelings. It's okay to say, "Yes, it is sad that some children have to leave their homes. That's why people and organisations work hard to help keep them safe and give them hope."
Age-Appropriate Guidance
Ages 3-5: Simple Stories and Safety
Young children need reassurance and simple explanations that don't overwhelm them.
What to say: "Some children and families have to move to a new place because their home isn't safe anymore. Maybe there's fighting or they don't have enough food. They go somewhere new where people can help them be safe and happy again."
What works at this age:
Keep explanations brief and concrete
Focus on feelings they understand: "Imagine if we couldn't stay in our house and had to find a new place to live. That would feel scary, wouldn't it?"
Emphasize safety: "There are kind people and organizations that help refugee families find new homes and schools"
Use picture books about moving or finding new homes as gentle conversation starters
What to avoid: Don't provide graphic details about violence or danger. This age group needs to feel secure, not frightened about what might happen to them.
Ages 6-9: Building Empathy Through Stories
Primary school children can grasp more complex ideas and start to understand that not everyone has the same experiences they do.
What to say: "Refugees are people who had to leave their country because of war, violence, or persecution. That means they weren't safe there anymore. They travel to other countries—sometimes very far away—to find safety and start a new life. It's really hard to leave everything behind, including friends, toys, and sometimes even family members."
What works at this age:
Connect to their own experiences: "Remember how nervous you felt on your first day at school? Imagine starting school in a completely new country where you don't know the language yet. That takes real courage."
Read age-appropriate books featuring refugee children's stories
Explain that refugee children have the same hopes and dreams they do—wanting to learn, play, and be with their families
Activities that help:
Draw pictures or write cards for refugee children
Learn a few words in languages spoken by refugees in your area
Explore a map together showing where refugees come from and where they seek safety
Answer common questions honestly:
"Will we become refugees?" It's extremely unlikely. We live in a safe country with strong systems to protect people.
"Why can't they just go home?" Their homes might be destroyed, or it might still be too dangerous.
"Are all refugees children?" No, whole families flee together—children, parents, and sometimes grandparents too.
Ages 10-13: Understanding Bigger Picture Issues
Pre-teens can handle more nuanced discussions about why displacement happens and what seeking asylum means.
What to say: "Refugees are forced to flee their countries because of war, persecution, or human rights violations. Under international law—specifically the 1951 Refugee Convention—countries have agreed to protect people who can't safely return home. When someone applies for asylum in the UK, they're asking our government to recognize that they need protection. It's a legal right, not a favor."
What works at this age:
Discuss real-world events in age-appropriate terms: "You might have heard about the conflict in [current crisis]. That's why many families from there are seeking refuge in Europe."
Explore the difference between refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants
Talk about the challenges refugees face: learning new languages, navigating unfamiliar systems, dealing with separation from loved ones
Highlight resilience: Many refugees become doctors, teachers, entrepreneurs, and community leaders
Discuss what Save the Children does: providing education in emergencies, child-friendly spaces in refugee camps, family tracing services, and advocacy for children's rights
Addressing misconceptions: This age group might repeat things they've heard from peers or media. Gently correct myths:
"They're taking our resources" → The UK receives asylum applications at a lower rate per capita than many European countries. In 2024, there were 16 asylum applications per 10,000 UK residents, compared to an EU average of 22 per 10,000.
"They're all adults coming alone" → Most refugees flee as families, and many are children
"They chose to come here" → Nobody chooses to become a refugee. It's a last resort when staying means danger or death.
Encourage critical thinking: Ask questions like: "How do you think it would feel to leave everything you know?" or "What do you think refugee children need most when they arrive somewhere new?"
Ages 14+: Complex Conversations and Action
Teenagers can engage with the political, ethical, and humanitarian dimensions of refugee issues.
What to discuss:
The root causes of displacement: conflict, climate change, persecution based on religion, ethnicity, gender, or political beliefs
The asylum process in the UK and how it works
International law and the UK's obligations under the Refugee Convention
The difference between legal and moral perspectives on migration
How media portrayal shapes public attitudes toward refugees
Encourage informed opinions: Point teens toward reliable sources like UNHCR statistics, UK Government immigration data, and Refugee Council analysis. Help them distinguish between fact-based reporting and rhetoric.
Support action: Many teenagers want to do something practical. Suggest:
Volunteering with local refugee support organizations
Fundraising for charities' emergency appeals
Joining or starting a school group focused on refugee rights
Writing to MPs about refugee protection policies
Sharing accurate information on social media to counter misinformation
Validate their emotions: It's normal for teenagers to feel frustrated, angry, or helpless about global injustice. Acknowledge those feelings while emphasizing that positive change happens through informed, sustained action—not just outrage.
When Your Child Meets Refugee Children
If refugee children join your child's school or community, it's an opportunity to practice welcome and inclusion.
Prepare your child: "There might be a new student in your class who's recently arrived from another country. They might not speak much English yet, or they might seem quiet while they settle in. Remember what we talked about—they've been through a lot. Small acts of kindness, like a smile or including them at playtime, make a real difference."
Encourage friendship, not pity: Refugee children want to be treated as equals, not charity cases. Help your child see beyond the "refugee" label to the individual: someone who likes football, loves drawing, misses their grandmother, or has a great sense of humor.
Respect privacy: Teach your child not to bombard new arrivals with questions about their journey or trauma. Let friendships develop naturally.
Handling Difficult Questions
"Why don't they learn English before they come?"
Learning a new language takes time—usually years to become fluent. Imagine trying to learn Arabic or Swahili while also dealing with the trauma of fleeing your home. Most refugees are incredibly motivated to learn English and integrate."Why do they get help when people here are struggling too?"
This isn't an either/or situation. A compassionate society can support vulnerable people regardless of where they were born. Save the Children works to help disadvantaged children both in the UK and globally—no child should be left behind."Are they dangerous?"
Refugees undergo extensive security checks. They're fleeing violence, not bringing it with them. In fact, refugees often contribute significantly to their new communities—opening businesses, working in the NHS, and enriching cultural life.
What Save the Children Does
We believe every child deserves a safe childhood, no matter where they were born or where conflict has forced them to flee.
In crisis zones, we provide emergency education, child-friendly spaces where children can play and heal, family tracing services for separated children, and psychological support.
In the UK, we work to ensure refugee children can access education, healthcare, and the support they need to rebuild their lives.
Through supporters like you, we reach millions of displaced children every year—proving that even in the darkest times, hope and humanity prevail.
Taking Action Together
Talking about refugees is important, but action makes the conversation real.
As a family, you could:
Support refugee integration by volunteering with local welcome groups
Challenge negative stereotypes when you hear them
Teach your children that compassion isn't limited by borders
Small actions, multiplied by millions of families like yours, create the groundswell of support that changes refugee children's lives.
Final Thoughts: Raising Compassionate Global Citizens
When you talk openly with your children about refugees, you're doing more than explaining current events. You're teaching them that everyone deserves dignity, safety, and hope. You're showing them that empathy isn't passive—it leads to action. And you're helping build a future where displaced children aren't defined by their trauma, but by their potential.
The conversations might feel difficult at first, but they're worth having. Because when your child grows up understanding that refugees are people—families just like yours who've faced unimaginable circumstances—they'll be part of the generation that makes the world more welcoming, more just, and more humane.
And that's a future worth talking about.
Want to learn more? Visit Save the Children UK to discover how we're supporting displaced children worldwide—and how you can help make a difference.
This blog has been repurposed from Save the Children's Wonderbooks for our UK website.
