A mum's playground analogy of the war in Ukraine is being used by parents to explain the conflict.
Yvette Dawson-Phillips used it as a means of gently reassuring her daughter Megan when she'd called her up fretting over the invasion.
But when she shared her thoughts on Facebook, her post has quickly gone viral and earned praise from mums and dads struggling to explain how the war has come about in a way that youngsters will understand.
In it she likens World War Two to a 'big playground fight' after which 'lots of popular kids (WORLD LEADERS) got together and made a big gang (NATO), and all the kids in the gang made a pinky promise (TREATY) to be nice and respectful and not fight each other anymore'.
"This means not going into each other's part of the playground (COUNTRY) without permission, and not throwing sticks or stones (HEAVY ARTILLERY) at each other, and the UK is part of the gang," she said.
"But then a new kid (UKRAINE) joined the playground, and a big bad bullly (RUSSIA) started picking on the new kid, all because he is greedy and bossy and wanted the new kids playground space for himself, even though he has one of the biggest spaces in the playground."
She goes on to explain how Ukraine is 'not part of the gang because the big bad bully didn't want the new kid to join the gang' and how we 'would be breaking our pinky promise if any of the gang members help the new kid fight the bully'.
Yvette's post has been shared almost 10k times and picked up by other social media outlets who have shared it too.
"Thank you for this," said one follower. "You've not just explained it to your 11 year old but to a 35 year old as well. I understood a little about it, but I understand a lot more now after reading this!"
Another added: "What Yvonne has done is make explaining this awful atrocity somewhat easier for our children to understand. I have little grandchildren who are frightened there might be a WWlll.
"I have tried to explain in the easiest, gentlest way about what is happening to the wonderfully brave people of Ukraine. Yvonne has found a way to explain events in a very succinct way age appropriate way. Thank You Yvonne."
Here's Yvonne's post in full:
** Edited. This was my gentle way to reassure my young daughter that we are safe... for now. But it is important to teach all children that we MUST NOT HATE the people of Russia, Ukraine or anywhere else for fighting together, regardless of who started what or why. We are all human beings sharing one beautiful planet drawn into conflict by our leaders. The people of Russia and Ukraine have families, children and loved ones too who will be sadly lost during this conflict.
I was in Morrisons doing some shopping today when Megan called me. She was out with her friends and said "Mum, one of the boys said Russia is about to enter the UK and start fighting us, so we're really scared".
Well, I'm not sure what anyone around me shopping thought about my explanation to a bunch of 11 year olds about Russia and Ukraine, but it went something like.....
After the last BIG playground fight (WW2), lots of popular kids (WORLD LEADERS) got together and made a big gang (NATO), and all the kids in the gang made a pinky promise (TREATY) to be nice and respectful and not fight each other anymore.
This means not going into each other's part of the playground (COUNTRY) without permission, and not throwing sticks or stones (HEAVY ARTILLERY) at each other, and the UK is part of the gang.
But then a new kid (UKRAINE) joined the playground, and a big bad bullly (RUSSIA) started picking on the new kid, all because he is greedy and bossy and wanted the new kids playground space for himself, even though he has one of the biggest spaces in the playground.
But sadly, the new kid is not part of the gang because the big bad bully didn't want the new kid to join the gang.
We would be breaking our pinky promise if any of the gang members help the new kid fight the bully.
We have all told the bully off, and stuck up for the new kid by hiding the bully's pocket money until the bully stops hurting the new kid (SANCTIONS) and this will hopefully stop the bully from buying more sticks and stones.
We have also given the new kid lots of our own sticks and stones to fight the bully, because this is not breaking the pinky promise!
Even though it is really, really sad, all we can do now is stand on the edge of the playground and watch and give moral support to the new kid, because we are not allowed to fight the bully for them, not without breaking the pinky promise.
BUT... if the bully breaks the pinky promise and comes into our part of the playground (UK) without permission and throws a stick or stone at us, then the whole of the gang (NATO) will come and help us, and we will ALL jump on top of the bully (RUSSIA) and beat him up.
Now don't worry anymore sweetheart, just go and play nicely together in the sunshine and don't get up to any trouble."
