Do Children Need to Know...?

707 pageview(s)  2007-11-07 12:50  
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Do Children Need to Know about the horror of war?  I realize that at some point, children need to learn history, but what age is a good age to learn about the horrors of holocaust?

My 8 year old was devasted to learn that people were put into concentration camps and death chambers,  that children witnessed their parents being killed, of the horrible suffering.  She is a very sensitive child, and this brought up all kinds of questions and concerns - not the least of which was death and its inevitability. 

How long should innocence be protected?  See my group post for details:

http://www.apsense.com/subject/23836.html



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View all 5 comments
fishie  Advanced  Nov 7th 19:36
Oh wow! This is very good subject. It is very difficult as a parent to know exactly how much and at what age a child is ready to learn of such sensitive material. I home school my children and I have a very sensitive 7 yr old who is very gifted in reading and reading comprehension - so I can understand the conundrum. I guess if your child is sensitive to such things, as my son is, I give the "general" overview and wait until she begins asking questions. It seems to work for us. Also when my son does ask about sensitive issues we have a real heart to heart about it and I am able to kind of feel what he is becoming anxious about and explain it --sometimes hard to explain the actions of others, but we try our best *winks* I would much rather discuss the Horrors later and give a general overview now and let him enjoy being a child while he can. Innocence is something you can never get back. of course every family is different and this is simply my opinion.

puresurplus  Advanced  Nov 8th 21:38
Absolutely. My son is now 7 but I first took him to the Holocaust museum in DC when he was only 3. I do not feel that this in any way robbed him of his innocence. He did not understand the magnitude of the subject then and still only has a vague understanding of historical events, but I think it is important for us all to realize the capacity for evil yet beauty of the human spirit. I was raised by my grandfather and heard a first hand account of the atrocities he witnessed while a POW in Germany after being captured at the Battle of the Bulge. Some still deny that the Holocaust ever happened. This is exactly why the leaders of our future must know the truth dispite it's unpleasantness. Obviously, for some children of today, war is very real and tangible as parents in the military are frequently deployed. Each individual must make the best decision for their own family at the given time that they feel it is appropriate to discuss certain horrors of this world. I happen to be an extremely over-protective mommy but truthfully answer any questions my son's little mind can come up with. I'm sure there are only more challenges ahead, but I am proud to be forming such a compassionate young lad.

Sherri-Anne Myers  Senior  Nov 8th 22:13
Well, I think this is an individual parents choice to make. I have to say my kids are older and have had plenty of anti war brain washing in school. Freedom is not free, someone has to fight for it. Although I think children could be spared the gory details. I personally am disgusted with the fact that no one proudly supports our country anymore. I think that teachers are teaching to many negative opinions of our government. Of course I was born on a marine base so my opinion is a little bias. If you want your children to take pride in our country get them while they are young before the middle & high schools get a hold of. Plus each child is different and should be treated accordingly. What is right for one may not be right for the other.
Sherri-Anne Myers
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puresurplus  Advanced  Nov 9th 13:20
I concur Sherri-Anne...HOORAH!

Karen Weir  Committed  Nov 9th 19:56
Thanks for all your input guys! I don't know Sherri-Anne... I am not American, and although I understand and appreciate the sacrifices made for our freedom, I think that children can be taught without traumatizing them. I also think that you can be anti-war and still appreciate those sacrifices. I have issues with schools "teaching" any view point. I don't "teach" my children to believe as I do either. I hope to "teach" them to think for themselves - and I wish that our schools did that too, but they don't. I have heard public schools described as "conveyor belt" education, where everyone gets taught the same things. They don't teach children how to "think", and develop their own ideas - my goal as a parent is to supplement that "conveyor belt" mentality with critical thinking. I want to raise leaders, not followers. Fishie, I really admire home schooling parents. I send my children to French Immersion school so that they will learn a second language, but have to admit that I am quite unimpressed with the curriculum - including when and how much information to give on some topics - such as holocaust horrors.

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