OBT Magazine

The horrific killings at Fort Hood last week have dominated the headlines, and it's been hard to shield my five-year-old son from the news. Even so, I wonder is it a good idea to protect your children from what's happening in the world around us? I asked Suri Roth, a former teacher and young mom to two daughters, for her thoughts. Roth is the founder of the country’s only national newspaper for kids, The Current Events.

As a parent, how do you determine if an event is age-appropriate to discuss, such as the death of a major figure?
It really depends on the child. Is the child aware of this event? In some instances these events pass right over children and they have no interest in knowing. It's important to determine if the child really wants or needs this information. It is certainly less complicated to deal as a parent on a one-to-one basis with children about a tragic event such as death. Children are most affected by these events if they had a relationship with the deceased. Some children find it comforting to know that the person or people involved not in pain anymore. I have found that with my own kids the primary concern is the "pain factor," and "can it happen to us?"

I like to draw on what Kathie Scobee Fulgham, daughter of an astronaut who died on the Space Shuttle Challenger, shared with other children whose parents had died in terrorist attacks or space disasters. Kathie describes seeing the shuttle explode over and over again on the TV screen and virtually seeing her dad dying over and over again. She said that each time brought more confusion and pain.

Today Katie shares with children of disaster victims that "the same way your brain doesn't register immediately when you break your arm," the victims don't feel the pain and don't know what is happening. I talk to my children about this concept and find it very helpful.

However, covering bad news, such as fire or terrorist attack, tends to dominate the headlines. Should we shield our children from those discussions?
We can't - in most instances, that is. I would certainly not draw attention or describe the details of events that can be frightening to children. Children pick up on what's happening around them and sense tense situations. It is best to talk to them about the situation so that they feel secure that they are getting the information from a safe, age-appropriate resource and that they don't have to look for answers on their own, or try to make sense of events on their own, which often leads to misunderstanding and unnecessary fears and anxiety.

The point is to give them the information that they need and not extraneous information that can be harmful. I often focus on what is being done to prevent a given situation from happening in the future, and what steps we are taking as a family and a nation to prevent this from reoccurring. For example, pointing out the volunteerism that took place after 9/11 gives children a sense of "we're not alone" and helps them shift their focus to positive, and in some instances courageous, actions taken by fellow Americans.

What kinds of news events spark the best conversations with your own family? Sports? Local? National?
I think it is my passion for imparting knowledge that drives these discussions in our home. It's my tone, my attitude such as: "I came across an amazing news item today...it was about such-and such," and my children are all ears! Then come the follow-up questions which lead us to explore the topic on a deeper level.

How can schools do a better job of incorporating current events into the curriculum?
In the Information Age, where we are today, current events are a crucial part of education. Textbooks are typically a few years behind and in many instances the information is outdated. If educators make an effort to tie in the news across the curriculum, learning comes alive and becomes relevant.

I can't think of a better way to spark students' interest in government than to present the headlines of what's happening in our government now. The same applies to all content areas. For example: "What is currently happening in the region being discussed in your history class?" "Are there any scientific studies being conducted in the field your science class is exploring now?" By incorporating current events in classrooms we provide our students with a foundation for lifelong learning that they can apply to their everyday lives.

What's the best way to get kids engaged in the world around them?
Tune into their natural curiosity. What are their interests? Build on them!

For more tips on talking to children about bad news, check out this article from the Portland Examiner.