Do your kids know about Sept. 11?

Question

My oldest son was 1 years old when it happened and my younger son was not born yet. I have never told them about that day. My oldest is 8 years old now, do you think I should tell him about it? As far as I know he doesn't now anything about it unless they have said something in school. Thanks

Answer 1

They are going to learn about it in school eventually.

Unless they ask why bring it up? Are you going to tell them about the Holocaust, or Darfur genocides?

Why go out of your way to tell them about 9/11 when it's talked about everywhere and will be talked alot in schools?

I think unless they ask, you shouldn't go out of you way to tell them about it.

Answer 2

I do not have children yet, but I'm hoping to one day, and when I do, when I think they're old enough maturity wise, I'm going to tell them.  Partially because it had a huge impact on our nation, and also because their daddy is in the Marines *at least I'm hoping he's going to be their father, I'd love nothing more :)*  

It's up to you, it'll probably be like Pearl Harbor was back in 1941, except the wound is still kind of open in a sense.  It's fresher, more recent and all.  I'm sure they're going to talk about it in school, not necessarilly as part of the class, and possibly not right now, it may be a few years down the line.

Answer 3

Depends! I mean if you have any personal life incident related to it then no reason to hide it.

If not then no reason to tell them.Its a fact and anyhow they'll come to know about it. And its nothing you can do for it.

Just keep in mind that you dont create to much hatred in their mind about terrorists while describing about it. Othewise it creates a negative impact on them. after all they are children.

Good luck. You are really caring for your children. Whatever you will do, it will be best for them.

Regards,

Hardik

Answer 4

I agree with Michele. I think A) many kids have knowledge of the situation and B) that they should be informed of the basics.

I have a daugher who will be 19yrs in Dec and twin boys who will be 9yrs in Oct. We lived very close to Washington D.C. and I remember that day perfectly, as does my daughter. She was in the 6th grade at the time and remembers having to stay in school extra hours, the choas of parents coming to try and get their kids, the new reports etc. She knew so much detail of the situation from the TV and the news even though we tried to keep her away from it. At almost 12yrs, the details were scary and made her extremely uncomfortable. We in turn moved away from the area.

With my boys, they learned about Sept 11 in kindergarten. There was a moment of silence in school and the kids put together baskets and cards for those involved in the war and families who had lost loved ones. I explained the basic details of the events when they come home that day and what I told him is still really the same amount of knowledge they have today.

Share the basics. It's better off coming from you, the parent.  

Answer 5

Yes.

Duh.

Answer 6

Yes. I would tell your children. Its not a secret and even though its tradgic they should know. My daughter is 6 and i was 5 months pregnant with her during 9/11. She knows that terrorist are bad people who killed themselves to hurt America and kill many people. She knows that I worked there durning that time and that i was ok but many werent. As she gets older I'm sure i'll let her see some the news fottage but right now she is to young.

Answer 7

no, i think that you should watch the movie 'sicko' by micheal moore where the volunteer emergency workers that were actually pulling bodies out of rubble of the WTC they all got a special type of cancer from all the fumes and dust and the government wouldnt even take care of them, yet all the al quida leaders that have been caught is being held in cuba and they get free health care, dental, vision works and if they get cancer they are automatically fixed up at the cost of the american tax dollars. I'm not proud of that day, and will be soon forgetting about it because of the horrible decisions that the american gov't has made within this past decade.  

Answer 8

I actually think this is similar to the JFK assassination. This was far before my time, my mother was just about 2 yrs old. She doesn’t remember that time but all her siblings do. It was a moment in history where time kind of stopped. And people will always remember and always be reminded.

I think it’s the same for 9/11. Some may have been too young or not born yet, but the history is still there and because it was another day where time stopped, it’ll always be remembered and reminded.

I know I’ll be talking about it to my kids.

Answer 9

I'm not a parent but i'm 9 years older than my little sisters and i would not tell them it would only scare them. Also they are both 8.

Answer 10

Mine were 2 1/2 & 4 1/2 when it happened.  I just happened to turn on the tv right after the first plane hit.  We were all watching I was thinking this isn't real.  After a few the moments the second plane hit and I realized that yes it was real.  I was in shock.

My daughters are 8 1/2 & 10 1/2 now.  My older daughter vaguely remembers seeing it on tv.  But we talk about it and about terrorism sometimes.  

Only you know if your son  is mature enough to  handle it.  You don't have to make him watch video of the event,  just try to talk to him or explain to him, at his level.

Answer 11

Talking about it may scare them.  If they do talk about it in school though, be prepared to answer any questions your 8 year old may have in a calm, logical manner.  

Answer 12

Absolutely. All of my children know. Even my 6 yr old. We watched the news when it happened. We have watched television programs and movies since then. If we let anyone forget what happened we do a severe injustice to those who lost their lives.

Answer 13

Yes.  I mention it to my kids every year before the anniversary.  It wouldn't be surprising if it came up at school; friends may mention it; it's all over newspapers/ tv news/ radio news, etc. around the anniversary, as well.  You certainly don't have to go into gory details beyond what's age-appropriate, and you know best the way to discuss it so that it's not scary for your child.  But I think that certainly by first grade or so kids are ready for and entitled to basic information about things like that which have so much impact on our lives.  Do you discuss the war in Iraq with your 8-year-old? Those are things we talk about in our family, too, in an age-appropriate way.

Answer 14

no not yet my kids are to little but i know when they get to high school someday they will put it in new history books.

you could tell him but i would go online with him so he understands better about it and how it happened.there are plenty of websites just google it they will be there

Answer 15

This is a really good question and one I don't think many parents think about. We lived through Sept 11...we remember what we were doing, where we were etc just like many others when it comes to the first man on the moon or when Kennedy was shot.

I think all parents should speak to their kids about THE BASICS of Sept 11 so they get a sense of the event beyond what a history book says or a news reporting. Most kids know what it is or have a sense about it already and you don't even know.  I know in my kids schools, they have a moment of silence on Sept 11 and send cards to men and women overseas. They don't need to know all the details at a young age, but I think knowing the basics is important.

We don't have any personal connections to Sept 11, but the war that has spun off it has had a HUGE impact on our family. Our daughter, who is almost 19yrs, remembers Sept 11 and at the time, we lived very close to New York City.  I told our middle two, who were born Oct 2001 and Dec 2002, about Sept 11 at around 5-5.5yrs. It wasn't a sit down event...I didn't go, "Ok, here it goes..." It came up: "Mom, why is Dad in war?" "What is Sept 11?" "What are the Twin Towers?"

If you ask my almost 7yr son about it, he'll tell you that on that day, 2 planes were taken and flown into the Twin Towers in New York City. One crashed in PA and the Pentagon. Many people lost their lives.

I felt they needed to know this not only because their father was in the war and away most of their life as  babies/toddlers, but because there are still many things going on now related to that event.

We've gone to see where the World Trade Center stood, memorials etc. They're seen pictures of the buildings prior to the event. I stay away from the details of group of people who did this, pictures of the situation etc. That they can see when they're older.

Answer 16

My daughter was 3 months old and she's now 7.  No, I don't come right out and have a discussion with her about it.  It's like when wars happened when we were kids.  My parents never sat down with me and talked about it, unless I asked.  They will learn about it in school.  No use in frightening her or making her worried.

Answer 17

Why aren't people talking about it? Is it a secret? I haven't seen any memorial tributes to the people that died or for thier families. We have stuff like that on for everything else, like D day and vietnam. where are the tributes for september 11

Answer 18

Yes, I think that your chld should be aware of atleast the basics of September 11.  It is an important part of our history, and he is bound to hear references to it everywhere.

I have a son the same age (8 now, was 1 when it happened) and a 10 year old daughter.  They both know about September 11.  Of course, the information is given in a manner in which the child can comprehend, but I think it is important they know.

A couple of years ago, my daughter and I visited the WTC site when we were visiting NYC.  It was a powerful experience, that I think even she understood.  She knows that terrorists flew planes into the WTC (and other sites) and that a lot of people died.  The art work and other memorials there touched her-especially those done by children.

Answer 19

Yes you should

Answer 20

If it comes up in conversation then yes but why make a special effort. It will come up soon enough at sometime in their life.

Answer 21

i think you should because kids need to know the world for what it is and to know they cant trust every body.it's a shame that we need to school our children about bad stuff like this and it would be nice if we could keep it from them because there so innocent and trusting but all that inasents and trust can and probably will end up slapping them in the face or worse some day if they don't get a heads up from the ones that love them.I think it's our job to keep them safe and let them know that you really shouldn't trust any one until they earn there trust fist.hope you make the write decision,i know you just want the very best for your children.

Answer 22

I remember that day vividly... i was there!  When it comes time for my children to learn about it in history i will get out the old newspapers and sit down with them.  Until then, no.  If his school is doing something for the anniversary, and he has questions, answer them... i wouldn't go too in depth though.