9/11 - what are you doing?

[sarahtar]

I'm starting to try to figure out what I want to do about 9/11 for my 7 year old. What are you doing with your kids?

[xzaviers_mama]

Watching...  

My 7 year old saw one of those specials on 9/11 a couple of months ago.  He was pretty curious about it all.

[Savoir Faire]

Nothing. Mine are 5 and 7 and I really do not want them seeing the images of the planes. I know it'll happen one day, but for now, they are little with big imaginations and they often do fly on planes.

They know that something happened before they were born and that planes went into buildings, but that's it. I'm sure I'll personally feel a bit sad that day-- remembering back 10 years (how has it been so long?) and to those families, but for them...it will just be another day.

[zebra15]

Nothing planned.  We will study 9/11 as part of american history.   I can not believe its been 10 years!  I remember exactly where I was when I found out what was going on that day.  I sat for most of the day glued to my TV, just staring.

But this year DS will be 11 (his bday is a week before) and it's just another day.

[kittywitty]

Nothing. They've asked before, and we tell them some, but I certainly don't plan anything.

[PGTlatte]

I will tell them that some very bad people took over some airplanes and flew them into some buildings because they were mad at our country, and that a lot of people were killed when they did that, and that most of the world was really sad and angry and disgusted about them doing this.

I am hoping to keep them from seeing the footage until they are older.   To me it is still very disturbing even though I have seen it before.  It always will be.  I don't want them to see it until they are ready to understand that it was real and horrible....not like other things they see on TV or movies by accident that we quickly tell them "that's not real". 

On the actual day, our homeschool group is having a not-back-to-school picnic (that has nothing to do with 9/11).

[Coco_Hikes]

I'm in the kids-are-still-too-young category, but I know for myself I'll be thinking of that fateful day on the anniversary. We'll likely take extra care to avoid television and maybe even radio media because DD is still so young (DS too, of course). I was in Hoboken, NJ, last week, which is right across the Hudson River from NYC. Sometimes it's hard to even remember what the skyline looked like with those two buildings in it, even though I worked in and around the city for years and saw them standing there regularly. I just can't imagine describing the events of that day to DD right now. In time, though, it will come.

[Nursingnaturalmom]

nothing. i have some pretty young ones yet.  We will celebrate my sons 2nd birthdayon 9-11, though!!

[Nazsmum]

We live in NJ and I remember that day very well. Living so close I think it makes it hard not to talk about it. But I try not to make a big deal. When my boys get older I will go to the museum. But for right now no I don't have anything planned.(also had a friend that was late to work that day!!!!)

The day is very sad for me. I would see them everyday. Also I went to the top many times. I was a favorite place to go as a little girl.

[umsami]

Being Muslim and wearing hijab, I've gotten a few nasty comments in past years--and have had to explain some things to my kids.  (Some bad guys who were Muslims flew planes into buildings and hurt a lot of innocent people. Sometimes people need to vent their anger and sadness, so when they see me, they want to yell at the bad Muslims who did this but yell at me instead.)  Still, I hope to avoid the actual footage and details until they're older.  

[sambonpland]

I heard about this pretty cool thing in New York.  People are going to make a human chain on Saturday September 10th.  You have to register and then they tell you where to go.  I remember I felt so proud of the unity of NYers showed back then. I think it may be a nice way to show my little guy that side of New York.   Here is their facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/HandinHand911  and here is the registration info: http://www.handinhand911.org/register-now.  Maybe i will see some of you there?

Samantha

[Coco_Hikes]

I just heard about a new curriculum regarding global terrorism that incorporates teaching 9/11 to K-12 kids. The people who made it were just on NPR if you want to listen to them talk about it.

Brian Lehrer show page: http://www.wnyc.org/shows/bl/2011/aug/30/teaching-911/

The curriculum itself: http://www.state.nj.us/education/holocaust/911/curriculum/

I haven't read through it and don't otherwise endorse this. Just insterested to know it's out there.