Do your younger children know about 9-11?

[phorsenuf]

I was reading another thread and someone posted that they had young children when 9-11 happened. She said the children know nothing about it, that they'll learn about it in school.
So it got me thinking. If 9-11 was almost 5 years ago do any of your younger children (say who are 5-6-7 years old now) know about what happened?

I guess it just kinda surprised me.

 

[ILUVMYBRIT]

My 7 year old does. We visited NYC a few months back and went by the site while on our way to the Statue of Liberty. There was a sphere in the park there that was at Ground Zero and she asked about it.
She knows that some very bad men that don't like us hurt alot of people and that lots of kids moms and dads didnt come home that day. She always wants to know why someone hates us that much. I dont know how to answer that one.

 

[offwegotoneverland]

no in your target age group at just turned 11 this week but yes my DS knows about it and has since 9/11 (although we did limit how much or often he could watch the news for a few days then)

 

[Bob Slydell]

No. DS1 was only 1 when it occurred and so far he's yet to ask about it. DS2 is only a year old now, so needless to say, he's not asked either.

 

[mickeyboat]

My girls are 5 and 6, (2 and 1 when it happened) and if you asked them, they would say they don't know anything about 9-11. They know in general terms that someone did something really bad and hurt a lot of people a long time ago. But they do not know the extent or the significance of the event, either in terms of loss of life, or political meaning. (When I say a long time ago, I mean a long time ago to them).

At this age, I think they are incapable of understanding 9-11's significance. To be honest with you, I don't think they will ever understand 9-11 more than as an important historical event. I will be more than happy to relate my personal experiences with them, try to relate to them what a terrible day it was to the world, and what tremendous effect it has had on me personally. But actually living through the day and its aftermath is something they will never understand. Unless the subject comes up before they learn about it in school, I am not sure I will go into much detail with them about 9-11 before then.

Denae

 

[PaulaSue]

My 7 1/2 year old knows a little. We talk about it now and then. She knows about the towers falling because of the bad men and the soliders are trying to find all the bad men. We have friends in the NYC area. I cry everey time I see old movies and tv shows of the twin towers.

My 5 1/2 and 3 year old haven't a clue, just what they heard over time but I bet they haven't put it together yet and won't for years.

I try to be very honest with my girls in kid terms.

 

[N&B'smom]

My son just turned 7 and he remembers it well. I was at work when everything happened and he came to visit me. I just remember the poor little thing wondering why his mommy was crying so hard. He saw the coverage on TV, maybe I should have kept him from seeing it but it's a part of history now, a vital part. I thought it was important and he was also a very mature little boy, always has been. We call him our little old man.

Shelby

 

[MrsNick]

I agree with one PP who said that 9-11 would probably be a significant world event to her child, but not as the personal event that we adults experienced.

I'm sure it's very similar to the cold war. I recall very clearly as a child being frightened at the prospect of nuclear war, and the political tension between the USSR and USA (and how significant it was when the Berlin wall came down). But, that's because it is first hand experience.

I don't think it's possible to comprehend those types of events fully if you haven't lived through them. Kind of like how I perceived Pearl Harbor before 9-11. Couldn't really wrap my brain around it until after 9-11. Now I think I have a better idea of how earth shaking Pearl Harbor really was.

 

[welovedisneyx4]

We were in DC and looking at the Pentagon this weekend. We were talking to DD10 who knows basic information about the Twin Towers.

She was 5 and in Kindergarden when it happen. I remember being glad she wasn't aware of it then.

She has learned some about it in school and from us. However, DH and I didn't realize she wasn't aware of the Pentagon and the plane that crashed in PA. We told her about it this weekend.

 

[soccerfreak_08]

I myself am 16 and have a 9yo sister. I know about it and remember it. I was in 6th grade at the time. My sister on the other hand knows everyone makes a big deal about the day but doesn't remember what happened. She asked me what happened and I explained it to her but she couldn't remember.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

I've told my DD6 my story since I worked in 7 WTC at the time. I downplayed some of the issues. She'll get the full bit when she is older. I saved alot of the papers and magazines and have them put away for her. I still work in NYC so I try not to frighten her. Now the WTC looks more like a construction site than anything else.
My DSDs were 11 and 13 at the time and living with us. They lived through the full brunt of it. We spoke of it often and addressed their concerns, fears and worries. I took them in to see the memorials after things settled down.
ETA: We haven't even addressed the issue of PA or the Pentagon yet.

 

[Beth76]

My son is 5 and was about 5 months old back then. I have no reason at all to tell him about it. He'll learn about it school whenever they study it along with all other events in history. I'm not quite sure what you're suprised about. Do you expect us to sit our children down and give them a history lesson on one particular day just so they're "in the know"?

 

[MushyMushy]

Not much.

DS 15 was 10 at the time and happened to be home sick that day, so he saw everything on TV. I thought it was important for him to see it, and I answered all his questions best I could.

DD 10, on the other hand, was 5 and in kindergarten. I didn't tell her anything, because she was too immature (for her age) to process it. Over the years, I've thought about it, but she still doesn't process things well at all -- we've since found out that she has a disability. I've told her about it in the most simple of terms, but she doesn't retain any memory of what I've told her.

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

My dd was 8 months old when it happened. She knows nothing about it.

 

[phorsenuf]

My son is 5 and was about 5 months old back then. I have no reason at all to tell him about it. He'll learn about it school whenever they study it along with all other events in history. I'm not quite sure what you're suprised about. Do you expect us to sit our children down and give them a history lesson on one particular day just so they're "in the know"?

No, that's not what I mean at all. Just curious is all. I guess it was something that I really never thought about until I read it. So I was curious. No need to get excited.....

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Mine don't.

It hasn't come up and they've not been in a situation yet to where they need to know anything.

My oldest was one and my youngest was not born.

We are pretty up front and tell them things in a developmentally appropriate manner. When they need to know or ask--they'll know.

 

[BabyTigger99]

My DS will be 7 in September. I remember watching TV with him on September 11th at night and he turned to me and said (as he was just a week shy of 2), "Why did the plane knock the box over?". He also knows that daddy is overseas to make sure the bad people don't come hurt us again.

 

[LBAK]

My DD 10 knows all about it. It's kind of hard not to know when you live 25 miles from it. Her school went into lock down, and her uncle was killed so we had to be honest with her as to what went on. It's not as vivid to her as it was to my then 15 yo. She still has problems dealing with it as 7 of her friends lost parents that day.

 

[robinb]

My six-year old knows nothing about it and we don't bring it up. I see no reason to fill her head with terrorism. If we were to go to NYC and see the memorial then I would explain to her in an age-appropriate way.

 

[lbgraves]

DS was almost 3 and went to his first day of preschool that morning while I took DD to her 1 year check up at the doctor. I rocked her when we got home while watching the towers fall and everything that happened after that. When DS got home & was up from his nap he played in the room & didn't say anything but I was glued to the TV. Later that day he asked me why someone was knocking all the buildings down and I realized that he had been paying attention. He didn't realize that they were showing a tape. Now at 7 1/2 we have talked about 9/11. He knows that bad men made the planes crash into the buildings and many people were killed. When we drove past the Pentagon a few months ago I pointed it out to him & we talked a little about what happened that day. He also knows it is why we are at war now. His friends have parents who have served in Iraq and after realizing what happens during a war while in DC, he now knows that it is dangerous for them. The Vietnam Memorial was a very emotional experience for him and we haven't talked about it much since then. When he is ready, I will answer any questions that he might have. On the other hand, DD is 5 1/2 & doesn't get any of it at all. I don't talk about it with her.