How to explain the 9/11 & Osama to kids

[pjlippert]

As may of you Cathletes I remember all too vividly "that day" of 9/11. And God Bless those of you and your families who lost loved ones. My son turned 8 in March and he is very interested in the death of "he who shall not be named".

I feel like I am stumbling quite a bit as to how to explain this devestating tragedy to my son. I've emphasized to him that just because "this guy/Osama" was a horrible person, we don't judge people based on names, accents, color of skin, etc, etc.... as I always have. But he is asking for more information. He is quite mature in his understanding but I don't want to overwhelm him.

How are you all handling this with your curious little ones?

Thank you very much in advance and GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Pam

 

[NY25]

Re: Bin Laden - He was a bad man who did very bad things and had to be punished. When the soldiers went to get him, he fought back and tried to hurt the soldiers, so the soldiers had to fight back and he got killed.
Re: 09/11 - just be honest. Bad people stole some airplanes and used them to knock down the buildings to hurt people and a lot of people died. Bin Laden is the guy who planned it.
And none of it had to do with his name, where he's from, what he looks like or what his religion is. He was just a bad, mean man with a bad, mean heart.
Check on the web too. I know there were coloring books geared to explaining it all to kids.
Basically just be straight but keep it at their level.

 

[Stephanie0523]

I like what NY25 said. I've just been honest. We really haven't talked too much about it. My oldest son (age 9) asked me tonight if it was OK to be happy that Bin Laden had been killed. DH said, "absolutely!"... But I didn't know how to answer that... Yes, I'm glad that he cannot hurt anyone anymore and now lots of families who've lost loved ones have a little closure and perhaps feeling of justice, but is it ever OK to dance on anyone's grave? I told him that it's never OK to cheer someone's death, but it's OK to be happy that he cannot hurt anyone anymore... It's a hard topic to tackle.

 

[jonahnah]

Hi Pam,

We live in southwest CT so my kids know classmates who lost fathers/uncles in the towers. My DD was in first grade on 9/11/01 and my son was in preschool so we've had lots of discussion from an early age. I would ask your DS what he wants to know. What happened? How it happened? Why it happened? Let his questions guide you in terms of how much detail to give him.

Just because OBL claimed he was doing his heinous acts in the name of the Muslim religion, doesn't mean he was acting in accordance w/ that faith. OBL as a person was just evil and he used his religion as an excuse for what he did. (You could liken it to WWII. Some Germans did terrible awful things before & during WWII, but not ALL Germans were/are evil people & being German doesn't mean you agree w/ or approve of those atrocities.)

Joan

 

[pjlippert]

Thank you very much for the suggestions. They are excellent and very helpful! Always such great advice from the Cathletes.

Pam