• Skip to content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Shop ModernMom
  • Become An Insider

ModernMom

The premiere destination for moms

  • Parenting
    • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Kids
    • Tweens and Teens
    • ModernMom Monday Videos
  • Cooking
  • Living Healthy
    • Breast Cancer
    • Health & Fitness
    • Body after Baby
    • Beauty
    • Relationships
    • Love
  • Lifestyle
    • Crafts
    • At Home
    • Education
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Decorate
    • Money
    • Brooke Burke
  • Celebrate
    • Holidays
      • Easter
      • Valentine’s Day
      • New Year’s
      • Christmas
      • Hanukah
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
    • Birthdays
    • Parties
  • Must Have
  • Contests
  • Entertainment

How to Explain Bin Laden’s Death to Your Children

May 6, 2011 by Peter J. Favaro Leave a Comment

The death of Osama bin Laden, and the constant reports about it can create parenting dilemmas and lots of mixed feelings. It is common for adults to feel relief, satisfaction and closure over the event, but it is easy to see how parents can get caught in a conundrum. If I seem "positive" about it, am I teaching my children that murder, for any reason, is a justifiable act? Should I appear "happy" about the death of another human being?

Parents know that children can be very concrete in their reasoning. Is it possible that the our reactions over this incident can teach children that revenge is the solution to conflict resolution and problem solving? These are much harder issues than they appear on the surface and as the world becomes more complex, and in the likely wake of all that is happening in the world today they will become even harder.

I have put together a short list of guidelines that parents can consider when families reflect on this conflict and the damage that is done by it:

(1) For children under six, limit, when possible, exposure to prolonged news broadcasts, especially those that broadcast sensationalistic images.

(2) Give children under ten the information they ask for and not much more.

(3) Emphasize that the President of the United States has to make some very difficult choices, and it is hard to know all of the reasons why he makes those decisions. Finish with the explanation that the decisions the president makes are meant to keep the people in the United States safe and that is what our president was trying to do.

(4) Avoid modeling angry responses and statements (especially around teens) that center on revenge-motivated reasons for the events.

(5) Always emphasize the differences between events that have impact on the world as opposed to things that happen in the family, with friends or in the school yard.

Difficult times call for well informed parenting strategies. I hope you find these helpful.

 

Comments

comments

Filed Under: Uncategorized

About Peter J. Favaro

Peter J. Favaro, Ph.D. is a forensic and clinical psychologist whose practice has focused on kids and families for the last twenty five years. He is the author of more than a dozen books on child and teen psychology, parenting, divorce, anger management and conflict resolution. Peter is a frequent guest on major television shows and has put together The Rubber Ducky Posse to help educate kids parents and schools about bullying. You can download free materials, parenting eBooks and the Coping With Bullies Manual at www.rubberduckyposse.com

Reader Interactions

Primary Sidebar

Search

Tell a friend

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
ModernMom Boutique

ModernMom TV

Featured

It’s One of Those “I Suck” Days…

Do you ever just have one of those I suck days? I do - a … [Read More...] about It’s One of Those “I Suck” Days…

Must Have

STEM-related Toys to Include in Your Child’s Easter Basket This Year 

April has arrived which means it’s time to pull out the food … [Read More...] about STEM-related Toys to Include in Your Child’s Easter Basket This Year 

Did you know?

What Does It Mean When Your Partner Curses at You?

What Does It Mean When Your Partner Curses at You?

How to Bake Thin Sliced Turkey Cutlets

How Soon After a C-Section Can I Get Pregnant Again?

What Will Draw Smells Out of a Closet?

What Will Draw Smells Out of a Closet?

Cover a Pork Roast

Should You Cover a Pork Roast & Add Liquid When Baking?

Freeze Cooked & Smoked Ham

How to Freeze Cooked & Smoked Ham

Children Overcome a Fear of Water

How Do Children Overcome a Fear of Water?

Footer

  • About Us
  • Contact ModernMom
  • Advertise With Us
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contributors

Copyright © 2022 Modern Mom. All Rights Reserved.

Reproduction of any portion of this website only at the express permission of Mom, Inc.

The information provided on ModernMom is for educational use only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.