If you son or daughter approaches you to ask what happened - what words would you use to explain the situation to them?
Re: How to approach topics like Colorado Shooting with kids?
For me although I do not have any kids I wouldn't make out any mass shooter a "evil" guy, even those terrorist in 9/11 or the norwegian terrorist.
Only because I think of the psychological stand point. They were either strongly misguided or thought this was only solution because of being backed into a corner.. right?
I don't think you can have a manual how to talk about these tragedies. I've been through many natural (tsunamis/typhoons/earthquakes) and unnatural (coops/life threatening) problems and the way to approach the subject is always when the kid talks about to you and you go off from that.
It's a tragedy that there have been so many shootings in America recently so perhaps (unless your pro-weaponry) tell them how its unnecessary to own a gun and reinforce that violence is not a solution and if they are in trouble they have to talk to you because you're always there to support and accept them.
I think what school shootings and also what colarado shooting had in common was desperation to get some form of recognition from society and perhaps they were depressed... I don't like to think of the possibility that they would kill people just for "fun" and in this case I don't think it was for fun..
sorry for the rant half of what I said seems irrelevant. hopefully other people will give you better responses.
Re: How to approach topics like Colorado Shooting with kids?
You being up some good points kakee. My daughter asked because she caught a glimpse of what was going on t.v
She is quite young so sugar coated it and brushed it aside but in the coming years, I want to proactively discuss these issues with her.
It brings into conversation guns, bullying, validation from society, how to deal with rage and anger, forgiveness.
I was hoping for some more responses.
Re: How to approach topics like Colorado Shooting with kids?
njgal, great topic. I was thinking about this a few weeks ago. A classmate of my daughter's was reprimanded for drawing pictures that depicted violence. She's a great kid but I've always felt a bit strange around her. I don't want to sound too judgmental but I'd want this kid's parents to figure out what's going on in her head. She's very very smart but when you talk to her, there's all these disconnected thoughts, mumbled speech and such.
When I read about the Columbine killers, I think the parents didn't realize where their kids were headed.
What am I going to tell my kids? Well, that some people, be it kids or adults, make wrong choices and are messed up. That is why it is important for you all to be close to mom and dad so we can always be together. Something like that.
Re: How to approach topics like Colorado Shooting with kids?
I think theres nothing you can do if you live in a sheltered society/household/environment. I believe that unless a child or an adult experiences it or witness (and I don't mean watching on tv) they will never really grasp the true sense of violence or tragedy or even happiness.
How much do children (who are actually aware of these things) talk about this to their parents? 9/11, school shootings even natural disasters.
Re: How to approach topics like Colorado Shooting with kids?
^ children don't talk to their parents so it's even more important that the parents pro-actively talk to their children about these matters.
The worse is when they turn to their same age friends (who are also confused) and their friends fill their head with more nonsense or a weird version of the truth and they grow up believing that.
Re: How to approach topics like Colorado Shooting with kids?
but how do we know what is the truth?
would you be able to discuss certain topics without getting mad and making your child runaway and hide?