How do I explain scars when a young child asks about them?

I think that it could be complex for a kid to understand, but you can actually tell them you were once really hurt and that's why the scars are there, to remind you that you are now better.

Depending on their age I usually blame it on a animal (example: the dog scratched me) if you have no animals blame sharp household objects.

Tell them they are a part of your past. I struggle/battle you faced. The scars may look ugly, but in reality they are beautiful. They show all the hardships you have overcome.

Kids don't need to know the exact answer to everything. If it's a really young kid, you can say you got them from being sad. Or you can make up a really cool story about them :) if they're older it's on you if you want to carefully tell them the truth or no.

this has been on my mind as well. tell them, they were battle scars. that you've been in a war and you're still recovering. they'll think that it's an actual battle, until later in their life, they'll understand and make a difference.

Tell them you fell down or it just a normal scar everyone got. If you're afraid you can tell them the truth as we know child will never lying sometimes child can comfort you as they are pure

Don't try and be very detailed, just be simple and straight-forward, but make sure to have their parent's permission first. If their parents let you just say "when you grow up you get a lot of problems in your head, and some people can't handle all the pain in their head so they hurt themselves in order to let that pain out equally". But be very aware of the mental age of the child since they may think it's a way of relief, and use it on themselves.

you can always say that you started to wash a cat and the cat freaked out cause cats HATE water and he scratched you everywhere

Being honest and explaining the child about coping mechanisms and anxiety could be a way, making them aware of other methods and how to be surrounded by supportive people who could help you feel understood so that you don’t have to find these as coping mechanism.. but then again it would depend on the type of scars you have too..

You explain in a way that you feel comfortable with which also takes into account the age and character of the child. If you don’t feel ready to explain then don’t force it. One day you will.