As the nation prepares for the possibility of war with Iraq, many parents, particularly those with young children, may find themselves in an uncomfortable position of explaining what war means.

Professors at California State University, Northridge have some advice for parents that may make explaining war to their children a little easier.

"The main job of parents, particularly for those with young children, is to protect their children as much as possible," said Barbara J. Hill, director of CSUN's Child and Family Studies Center. "For those parents with young children, I would really discourage watching the news or even listening to it on their radio when their children are around."

But the reality, Hill said, is that not all parents are vigilant about shielding their children from the news and youngsters are going to hear things from their friends.

"And when they start asking questions, be honest but also keep it very simple. Remember, they have legitimate questions but they don't have to know everything," Hill said.

"Explain that war is mostly a conflict between countries - as opposed to when a youngster is upset with a friend - and when two countries have different feelings or different philosophies about how countries are supposed to behave then sometimes wars happen."

Hill suggested parents avoid using names and any kind of labeling to discourage feelings of intolerance or discrimination against other people.

She also pointed out that some children might wonder why the two countries couldn't talk out their differences, as they, the children, are encouraged to do when they have differences with siblings or friends.

"Explain that the countries start by trying to talk about it, but sometimes they feel that the only thing they can do is to go to war," Hill said. "Try to keep it as simple as that."

She said that a discussion about war is also a great opportunity, particularly for parents with older children, to get out maps and history books to learn about other parts of the world, democracy, the principles the United States is founded on, as well as the principles of Iraq and other countries and their cultures.

Child development professor Barbara K. Polland, author of the popular parenting book "No Directions on the Package: Questions and Answers for Parents with Children from Birth to Age 12," the question of war with Iraq also provides an opportunity for parents to discuss their belief systems with their children.

"Some people may not be in favor of the president's actions, while others support him," she said. "This is a chance for parents to talk about what they believe and why, and to listen to what their children have to say."

If there is a war, Polland said that it is important to point out that efforts are being made on the United States' part to ensure the least amount of damage and injuries to children and grown-ups as possible.

"There have been news reports about the country preparing to send major medical supplies to Iraq if there is a war. We're not just sending weapons," she said. "Children should understand that it's the moral responsibility of our government to really help the wounded, even if we are the ones who wounded them."

War, Polland said, is a very hard concept to explain to children, especially to young children who may hear different things from their peers or older children.

"You need to be honest with them, 'yes people are going to get hurt and that's sad,' but keep it simple," she said. "We try to teach our kids that an eye for an eye doesn't work, and yet we are going to war. It can be very confusing. We just have to give them the assurance that our country is doing the best it can to take care of us."