Manisha Snoyer navigates the delicate and complex topic of talking to children about war. She offers a four-step approach that begins with understanding ourselves and extends to listening, inquiry, and action with our children. Drawing upon her personal experiences, including her time in the West Bank and the recent loss of a friend, Manisha brings a profoundly human perspective to the global conflicts that shape our news cycles. She challenges the media’s often narrow portrayal and invites parents to empower their children with open-ended inquiries and critical thinking skills. Additionally, she dives into the psychology behind our beliefs, citing Jonathan Haidt's "The Righteous Mind," and the value of storytelling. From pondering her environmental footprint to discussing the power of homeschooling and technology, Manisha creates an inviting, inspiring space for meaningful dialogue. She even encourages actionable steps like volunteering and voting, tying in everything beautifully to make a difference for a more sustainable, just, and happy world.
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Chapters
[00:00:39] - Introduction to Teaching about War & Peace
[00:01:25] - Four Steps Approach
[00:07:31] - Coping with Emotional Turmoil
[00:16:49] - Gifted Children and War
[00:27:00] - The Power of Storytelling
[00:38:13] - Civic Responsibility & Action
Time Codes
00:00:39 — Introduction: Manisha kicks off the episode by delving into the complex topic of teaching kids about war and peace, with a nod to sustainable and just global futures.
00:01:25 — Manisha's Four-Step Approach: Overview of the four steps involved in approaching the subject matter: self-awareness, attentive listening, mutual inquiry, and concrete action.
00:02:17 — Personal Experiences in Israel and Palestine: Impact of conflict zones explored through personal narratives.
00:03:34 — Critique of Media: Discussion on how media perpetuates anxieties and fears, diverting attention from possible positive changes.
00:04:36 — Connection to Israeli-Palestinian Crisis: Unveiling personal connections to current world crises and the learning derived from them.
00:07:31 — Coping with Grief: How to navigate dark times through constructive conversations, inspired by personal tragedy.
00:08:38 — Parental Intuition: The value of trusting one's instincts when discussing heavy topics with children.
00:10:33 — Language Matters: Avoiding the labeling of people as 'bad' or 'evil' and instead focusing on underlying issues.
00:14:18 — Starting with Listening: Importance of acknowledging children's feelings and queries about war.
00:16:49 — Gifted Children’s Reactions: Exploring how gifted children are intensely affected by concepts of war and justice.
00:18:50 — Media Rebuttal: Challenging the prevailing media narrative that the world is deteriorating.
00:22:20 — Personal Transformation: Manisha's journey from active protests to introspective impact.
00:25:36 — Mindset Changes: The uphill battle of changing societal perspectives for a better world.
00:30:35 — Power of Small Acts: The ripple effect of simple, local actions like library volunteering.
00:38:13 — Importance of Voting: A call to democratic participation as both a right and a privilege, underlining the impact on future generations.
00:44:00 — Community Inclusivity: Manisha introduces scholarship options for the Teach Your Kids community, emphasizing inclusivity.
This podcast is made possible through a generous grant from the Vela Education Fund
VELA Education Fund is catalyzing a vibrant alternative education ecosystem. VELA provides trust-based funding to entrepreneurs, fosters community-building and knowledge-sharing, and increases visibility through storytelling that promotes cultural awareness and acceptance of the out-of-system space. Today, VELA serves the largest community of out-of-system education entrepreneurs in the country, with over 2,000 community members. About half of VELA’s community members operate small learning environments, and the other half are ecosystem and community builders offering direct services and support across the out-of-system space. Learn more at
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