Unfortunately, we can’t shield our children from all the evil in the world. It would be nice, but it’s simply not possible. I would have preferred to shelter my children from the horrors of September 11, as well as many other heinous events that have occurred throughout the world. They hear it at school, on the news, see it in the papers, and there simply isn’t any way to completely protect them from the cold, harsh, realities of life.
So, what should we tell our kids? How much do they need to know? How much can they handle? When they ask questions, it’s important to give them honest answers, but sometimes it can be difficult to answer honestly and in an age appropriate manner at the same time.
I’m finding that my younger children know more than I realized. They sometimes watch the news at school, although I personally believe that many “news” programs should be rated R, and the others probably at least PG. I don’t think kids need to see the more graphic portrayals of what is occurring in the world around us, and at the very least, they need some background information and parental guidance to help them sort through the volatile events of our day.
I hate that my kids, and yours, have to grow up in the middle of what amounts to a world war, but I also want them to know the truth. The enemy is real and is evil, but not every person that shares similar physical or religious characteristics is our enemy. We as parents must teach our children to think critically, to rely on logic instead of just emotion, and to become better informed rather than forming opinions based on sensational headlines and images.
These dilemmas can only be multiplied when children have loved ones who serve. Most really don’t grasp the magnitude of the situation, which may well be a good thing. Knowing that Daddy or Mommy or anyone else is at war, has to be a scary thing, even if children don’t comprehend just how dangerous this war is.
In essence, the answer to “What should we tell our kids?” is a personal decision that each parent has to make for every child on an individual basis. However, we do need to provide honest insight and caution our children against believing everything they hear, without looking deeper, especially since the majority of reporting casts America and our service members in a less than positive light.