This post is triggered by a fancy and imaginative story about demons and monsters who created a tsunami, which S recently narrated to me. He apparently heard it from his friend who was told so by his mother.
I believe every parent has a way and method to explain natural disasters to kids. In this new age media where dramatic pictures are all across television and print, it is impossible to shield children from brutal reality - and may be we should not.
With what happened in Japan, S's (who is going to be 7) curiosity knew no limits - his questions ranged from what is a tsunami to if Japan still exists as a country or are we short of one country in the world!
It is hard to answer all their questions where you are balancing between being practical and at the same time assuring. After all, how would one respond when the kids ask - "what if it happens to us"? I usually respond by saying, hope and pray it doesn't and ever happens to us. But that leaves me wondering if that is enough - how do we prepare them for future, how do we make them brave, how do we make them resilient?
As someone said, let them be, they will learn on their own. And surely they will - but I believe a lot of our kid's behaviour is a reflection of our own - we need to be more prepared, brave and resilient. In a crisis situation, do they see us as facing it head-on or are we getting worried, stressed and breaking down. From what I see in Japan, people have been awesomely stoic and brave even after what they have been through. I haven't seen many wailing people across streets on television - perhaps thats taking things head-on. Perhaps their children have been and will be better prepared for future - even if it means going through a nuclear disaster...only time will tell! Surely something for us and our kids to learn...
I believe every parent has a way and method to explain natural disasters to kids. In this new age media where dramatic pictures are all across television and print, it is impossible to shield children from brutal reality - and may be we should not.
With what happened in Japan, S's (who is going to be 7) curiosity knew no limits - his questions ranged from what is a tsunami to if Japan still exists as a country or are we short of one country in the world!
It is hard to answer all their questions where you are balancing between being practical and at the same time assuring. After all, how would one respond when the kids ask - "what if it happens to us"? I usually respond by saying, hope and pray it doesn't and ever happens to us. But that leaves me wondering if that is enough - how do we prepare them for future, how do we make them brave, how do we make them resilient?
As someone said, let them be, they will learn on their own. And surely they will - but I believe a lot of our kid's behaviour is a reflection of our own - we need to be more prepared, brave and resilient. In a crisis situation, do they see us as facing it head-on or are we getting worried, stressed and breaking down. From what I see in Japan, people have been awesomely stoic and brave even after what they have been through. I haven't seen many wailing people across streets on television - perhaps thats taking things head-on. Perhaps their children have been and will be better prepared for future - even if it means going through a nuclear disaster...only time will tell! Surely something for us and our kids to learn...
2 comments:
Hi Bindu,
Good blog, and you have one more fan already :) for your writing.
Really difficult to explain to kids at time, but very important. Good thing is you can get better at the explnation over time, and creates a deeper bonding with the kids.
Curious to know more about the story of monsters creating the Tsunami..
God bless.
Mohit
Thanks Mohit - new found passion!
Don't ask about that monster story - apparently monsters came out of the sea and started Tsunami or something like that - a total mish mash. I found it fascinating to hear...:)
And yes we do get better with explanation and also kids become better listeners as they grow up. :)
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