Some friends of ours went marching against the war last week. They took their children along and, as is usually the case, our daughters found out about it (children never tell their parents anything, but kids chatting to each other leave no stone unturned).

"When's the war going to be, mum?" one asked. "Are you going to try and stop it like Tom's mummy?" piped up the other.

I didn't like to trivialise events by telling them that, of late, I'd had too much on - child starting school, car needing service, leaking toilet requiring plumber - even to think about Saddam, Bush, Blair, weapons inspectors and the build up of troops in the Gulf.

But there's another reason why, in relation to all campaigns and protests, I am treading carefully.

Children, particularly very young children, are easily influenced. They quickly become mini versions of their parents voicing their opinions and rooting for their causes.

Already, my daughters are spouting forth about all manner of things.

On a recent visit to a pet superstore I was mildly embarrassed - yet also quite proud - when my four-year-old loudly proclaimed: "Those birds shouldn't be locked up in cages, they should be flying wild in the jungle."

My children are fiercely anti-hunting and I expect that in a few years time they will use their pocket money to swell the ranks of the League Against Cruel Sports - of which I was a member for years.

They know all about Star Wars, having been fully briefed on a journey across the North York Moors to Whitby when the police were out in force at a protest rally at Fylingdales.

They wanted to know what it was all about and, though I almost fobbed them off with sheep rustling, I saw no reason to hide the real reason from them.

In fact, I pondered taking them to such an event last year, but worried that they may be a little too young to be burdened with too many graphic images of missiles hurtling into space to intercept other bombs.

However, they seem to be taking an interest in these matters - they have not shut up after watching (one cried throughout) a television documentary about bear farms in China.

I am almost afraid to take them to the local Chinese take-away in case their young brains make a totally unwarranted connection and start asking awkward questions.

I'm relieved they didn't fully latch on to what was happening during the foot and mouth outbreak.

But what my children really are hot on, is pylons. How they hate pylons. And mobile phone masts.

Oh yes, they are true crusaders for the environment.

And whereas I am to blame for this, I'm not the real culprit. That title goes to my dad.

I inherited his strong views on certain subjects and my children have taken on mine.

I only hope they don't ask to spend our summer holiday camping on Menwith Hill.

Updated: 11:15 Monday, January 27, 2003