How Are You Explaining War To Children?

[Psychodic_Greak]

Hey guys, I am just wondering, how are you guys going to explain the dangers of war to the youth?

[HAL9000]

Already discussed it with my 8yr old daughter, point blank, no holds barred.

[Force Flow]

That's an interesting point, Psychodic_Greak.

I would just try to be as simple an honest as possible.

[Markoman01027]

Wish I could, but I am 18 and I got no kids :-P

[Edave]

Im with Hal on this one.
I have an 8yr old and a 12 yr old,both girls.I just told them(mostly the 8yr old) point blank,that there are some very bad people in the world,and sometimes we need to send our military to different places in order to protect us from these people.They seem to understand pretty well,and any questions they have,I answer them honestly.

[Psychodic_Greak]

Originally posted by Markoman01027
Wish I could, but I am 18 and I got no kids :-P

Even if your 18, how would you explain it if someone were to come up to you out of the blue and asked you to explain why War is needed?

[HAL9000]

War is needed? I would never explain that war is "needed" tho.

[drew.]

I would try and be as striaght forward as possible, though i dont really know cause im probually the youngest on these forums. :)

[Psychodic_Greak]

Originally posted by HAL9000
War is needed? I would never explain that war is "needed" tho.

You might have misinterpreted what I was trying to say...

As of right now, we are at war with Iraq if a kid would come up to you in a mall/store/wherever and said "Why are we at war?" or "Why was war needed to end terrorism?"

Thats what i mean.

[SARGE]

Originally posted by Psychodic_Greak
Hey guys, I am just wondering, how are you guys going to explain the dangers of war to the youth?

I've been trying for many moons; just can't find the right words.

[gerberdude]

Heard a child psychologist on the radio yesterday talking about how adults don't even realize the way uncertainty in the world changes the way we do things, but that kids as old as 18 months can pick up on fear we don't even know we emit. He just suggested being very honest with your kids, and especially watching them for signs that they are becoming afraid too.

Gerber

[TimPoet]

The only war really worth prosecuting is the one that is needed. It better be needed before you send my son into combat.

[SARGE]

Originally posted by TimPoet
The only war really worth prosecuting is the one that is needed. It better be needed before you send my son into combat.

And the preacher said, "AMEN".

[drisley]

Children often have a clearer view of life than do adults. In many ways, adults have been deprogrammed to get to the point where they now sit around and worry about how to talk to ther own kids about it. It just keeps the child shrinks employed and adults more worried than they need be.

Be honest with your kids. They'll know if you're BSing them.

[avx]

I would never trust a shrink...those guys are just full of the bulls#^@. my 2 cents is no one ever needs a shrink...they just need a quiet room, and relaxing piece of furniture, and a good friend to talk to...you can solve anything that way.

Hey!! Maybe we should send Saddam some comfortable furniture.:D

[TimPoet]

Well... perhaps there's a little overstatement there. I actually am a good counselor. Now, if I could only get paid for it!

[CMT]

I had my stepson ask me last nite if we lose this War are they gonna come destroy Maine ...He is only 8 i was dumbstruck but just told him that there are bad people that we need to rid the world of I personally find it hard to explain even though he is brite I dont wanna lean him towards my views meaning that I want him to think freely.......