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How much do your kids know and understand about the world? About nuclear weapons and terrorism and our president and the Supreme Court and social issues? Do they watch the news? With you? Do they talk about it? To you? Are you concerned about their sources of inforamtion?
When I was 6, in 1944, I was paging through a Life magazine replete with pictures of WWII, and I called out to my mother in the kitchen, "Mom, where is the "war"? "Europe" she replied. Did I know enough, for a 6-year old, about the war?
How much do your kids know and understand about the world? About nuclear weapons and terrorism and our president and the Supreme Court and social issues? Do they watch the news? With you? Do they talk about it? To you? Are you concerned about their sources of inforamtion?
My son is very political. He's completely aware of all the world and social issues. He has even taught me a thing or two.
He has very strong beliefs too. Some of his beliefs line up with mine, and some of his believes oppose mine. That's fine. He's an individual, not an extention of me.
His sources of information have helped me teach him how to consider the source. Throughout his life, I've been more frustrated with his receiving information from teachers---public and private. I hate how teachers put their own political spin on things. When he was younger, I feared they would inflict some serious brainwashing into him. Throughout time, he started to recognize agendas and form his own opinions.
What makes me proud is his ability to look outside of his own opinions. He is logical and willing to concede. He doesn't just blindly follow anyone, even himself.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jtur88
When I was 6, in 1944, I was paging through a Life magazine replete with pictures of WWII, and I called out to my mother in the kitchen, "Mom, where is the "war"? "Europe" she replied. Did I know enough, for a 6-year old, about the war?
You should never give a young child more information than they are asking. Your mother answered perfectly. You asked where it was and she told you. You knew enough for a 6 year old. Information about world events should be age specific. It would be irresponsible for a parent to expose a 6 year old to the horrors of war. There are ways to convey our beliefs without being graphic.
My five year old is learning about worldly issues in small doses. I try to give well-rounded but brief explanations in a way that she can fully comprehend, because I've found that she otherwise latches on to some information while excluding whatever doesn't interest her...that's an incomplete education.
War is one we're working on right now. She understands fighting, killing and death. Battles, conflict. They are arguing with weapons, sweetheart...could not come to an agreement by talking to each other.
But the severity is something that her young mind can't quite wrap around. I feel for any child who at that age has to.
I never actually taguht my children politcs.I always concentrated on honesty and self respect. I taught them that no matter what i nay groupd their would be p[eole that are honest and those that are not. I also taight them that nothig is really free and that anyone who wants to give tehm somethign has a price whether its freedom or payments.Bascially i never had a real problem with them and have had real examples now that they are older that they are good;honest;hardworking adults. That is enough for me.
How much do your kids know and understand about the world? About nuclear weapons and terrorism and our president and the Supreme Court and social issues? Do they watch the news? With you? Do they talk about it? To you? Are you concerned about their sources of inforamtion?
When I was 6, in 1944, I was paging through a Life magazine replete with pictures of WWII, and I called out to my mother in the kitchen, "Mom, where is the "war"? "Europe" she replied. Did I know enough, for a 6-year old, about the war?
I was 6 years old in 1950 when the Korean war was going on. I do remember now that you bring it up seeing the news reels at the movies about the war, but I was to busy being a 6 year old.
My son is very political. He's completely aware of all the world and social issues. He has even taught me a thing or two.
??? COMPLETELY aware of ALL the world and social issues. I know for a fact that isn't true, unless he has a job in a very definite place and is very high up in that job.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hopes
You should never give a young child more information than they are asking. Your mother answered perfectly. You asked where it was and she told you. You knew enough for a 6 year old. Information about world events should be age specific. It would be irresponsible for a parent to expose a 6 year old to the horrors of war. There are ways to convey our beliefs without being graphic.
Again, not true. It is the worldly educated child who grows up in a home where the adults and kids alike regularly discuss world events, politics, theory, philosophy, conditions, etc..
Whether the child is 6, younger, or older, they benefit from discussion of the world around them and beyond. It's their natural curiosity to ask questions, and they should be answered in a way they can understand, but they should be answered with enough information that covers why they asked in the first place.
Simply by saying Europe doesn't cover it. Does a 6 year old know that Europe is a VERY big place? If a 6 year old even knows where Europe is, and knows how big it is, with that answer, would a 6 year old think the war covered an enormous continent? How frightening that would be.
It would be more specific to show the child where Europe is in relation to America, the different countries involved in the war and what countries our troops are in.
??? COMPLETELY aware of ALL the world and social issues. I know for a fact that isn't true, unless he has a job in a very definite place and is very high up in that job.
I was merely trying to convey that he's very informed and actively invovled in political and world issues. His friends are clueless. The OP was asking if our kids are informed, and I'm just sharing that mine most certainly is actively informed.
Quote:
Originally Posted by stormy night
Simply by saying Europe doesn't cover it. Does a 6 year old know that Europe is a VERY big place? If a 6 year old even knows where Europe is, and knows how big it is, with that answer, would a 6 year old think the war covered an enormous continent? How frightening that would be.
It would be more specific to show the child where Europe is in relation to America, the different countries involved in the war and what countries our troops are in.
I was going to disagree with you here, but my son (who I referenced above) tells me that 6 years olds want to understand more than the location.
I think it depends on what you want to teach your children. We believe that children are capable of understanding that there is a world bigger than their own family. We allow them to ask questions about what they see on tv and we answer all their questions honestly, and completely.
Talking to a 6 year old about the war doesn't mean that parents have to discuss the horrors of war, but it can mean that parents explain, in an age appropriate way who is fighting, where and what the issues are.
I also think you need to know your kids. My kids are very interested in history and politics so they want to know everything. I don't think it's fair to them NOT to answer.
Somewhat informed I'll say. I have 7 year old twins and we don't tell them scary news but make them sit and watch the news when something big/positive happens, like the presidential election, swearing in, etc....My older 2 (ages 11 and 14) know big news stories just from overhearing the news when we are listening to it. They ask questions and we answer the best we can, or we'll open conversation up.
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