"How would the magnetic field between two magnets be different if two south poles were close together?" - Different from what? Different from the magnetic field round a magnet that is not near another magnet, different from the magnetic field between two magnets with the north poles together (no different at all except that the 'arrows' would point the other way), or different from the field between two magnets if a north pole and a south pole were close together? It is necessary to remember that the 'north pole' of a magnet is not like the 'north magnetic pole' of the Earth. Some people refer to the north pole of a magnet as 'the north-seeking pole', or you need to imagine that the Earth's north magnetic pole is actually a south pole. As others have said, it's probably very difficult to explain the 'simple' statements 'Opposites attract' and 'Like poles repel'. Another useful thing to know - the true test of a magnet is repulsion. Only a magnet will repel another magnet. If you just have a piece of iron, it will be attracted to anything else that is magnetic.