Explaining 9/11 to a Six Year Old

My smart, very sensitive 6 year old has seen a couple of pictures of the twin towers on fire. In the past, he came to the simple conclusion: oh the twin towers used to be there and now there is the Freedom Tower. Well, I am kicking myself, because I recently bought him a book on airplanes/airlines and how they work, and there is a section on terrorism with a picture of one tower on fire and the second plane approaching the other tower! This morning he asked me about it while I was getting ready for work and then asked if we could read about it tonight!

Any advice on how to communicate simply what happened that day without upsetting or scaring him?

Message edited 7/28/2016 8:38:36 AM.

Re: Explaining 9/11 to a Six Year Old

Yikes, is that a children's book? I know you didn't ask this, but maybe that's not an appropriate book for a 6yo, and I'd take it away for now? IMO, a section on terrorism is not appropriate for a young child.

As for 9/11, I think you just have to be honest, but edited for his age. Say that are bad people in the world and some bad people did something very bad - without giving too many details. You don't want him to be afraid of flying, for instance. Generally, i believe in honestly while trying to let kids remain as innocent as long as they can.

Re: Explaining 9/11 to a Six Year Old

My daughter asked about 9/11 around that age because they were learning about it in school. I was honest (but edited) for her.

I basically said that we have bad people in the world that sometimes hurt people. These people wanted to hurt us and our country and it was a horrible, sad day BUT we came together as a nation and now we're stronger and better. She did ask why some people are bad and would do something so hurtful and I just said not everyone is raised to be a good person. That was enough of an explanation for her.

She's almost 8 now, when she sees things on 9/11 she does comment how sad it was and she can't believe that someone would ever fly a plane into a building. We actually took her to the 9/11 Memorial site and museum last year when she was 7 and I will say, it was a really good experience. They had some fantastic people working there (the one we met was a 9/11 survivor) and she sat with my daughter and explained that day to her in the most amazing way. She told her about the city she loves and how everyone came together to overcome. It was honestly a really incredible experience for her (and us!!) to listen to her story. She learned a lot that day.

Re: Explaining 9/11 to a Six Year Old

Re: Explaining 9/11 to a Six Year Old

This was 100 percent my fault. He is such and airplane enthusiast that kids books on the topic are too simple for him. This book, called Amazing Airlines, caught my eye. Here is the description:

In Amazing Airlines, Aditya Palnitkar takes you on a behind-the-scenes trip through the fascinating world of airlines, exploring the systems that are working to help you fly from one place to another. Inside, you'll find chapters on airlines, flight crew, airports, air traffic control and a brief history of commercial aviation. You'll also explore topics like baggage handling, airline food, airplane manufacturing and aerodynamics.

The simple language and smooth narration makes the book suitable even for teenagers and young adults. Interesting bits of information throughout the book means that there is never a boring moment.

I looked through the book quickly before giving it to him and it looked great. I really don't know why there is a section on terrorism in it (I am now at work and had my husband put the book away). In the reviews on Amazon, others had given to their kids, as well.

Thank you for your responses. I honestly think that at this point, it is best to put the book away or maybe even rip that small section out and I will say something like "that was for adults and not kids". I don't know, I have to think about it more.

Re: Explaining 9/11 to a Six Year Old

Re: Explaining 9/11 to a Six Year Old

Our 4&5 year old have learned about 9/11 after seeing a memorial & we told them there were bad guys who hit a plane into a building. Buildings fell & people got hurt. People had family members die. They were able to process it well. I think they understand bad guys more than we give them credit for.

Re: Explaining 9/11 to a Six Year Old

I would not give a six year old a book with passages about terrorism and airplanes flying into buildings as it is age inappropriate. I would give it to a nine year old and have a deeper discussion. Six is too young.

Re: Explaining 9/11 to a Six Year Old

I would remove those pages if all else is appropriate. I would then say that I made a mistake and part of the book was not for kids, so I took those pages out for when he gets older. Being he saw some of it, when asked about 9/11 then, at his age, I would keep it vague and say some bad people tried to hurt some people but it's not something he needs to think about at this time. I would try that. My child would probably accept that, but not sure if yours will. No matter what he asks, I would not get into the details! My 7yo still does not know details about 9.11 at all. It would absolutely scare the hell out of her, she would never get on a plane, and we just feel she is not ready to try to grasp the events of that day. In time, yes, but certainly not at 7, esp knowing someone we love is gone as a result.

Message edited 7/28/2016 7:50:17 PM.

Explaining 9/11 to a Six Year Old

Bad people are everywhere.

Some people believe that we as Americans are evil and they try to hurt us. This has happened throughout history. On 9/11 a group of such people took control of airplanes and flew them into the World Trade Centers - mama's work. Yes mama was there and in the buildings. It hurt a lot of people and did a lot of damage. Because of what happened there has been a lot of safety things we must do. That's why we take off our shoes and have such long lines at the airport. There's a lot more rules now then before because we want to be safer than before and we are. They built the freedom tower to replace the buildings to show we Americans never back down and never give up. Our whole country is here because we've fought people who don't believe in our right of freedom. That's why we call it the Freedom Tower.

There are still bad people out there and yes they still try to hurt us. That's why Auntie Ya-Ya is in the Navy. She's a sailor and helps fight the bad guys. We live our lives to prove we can. The more we live freely the more we prove to them we are still the Land of the Free and the brave. Because that is the way we get back.

and yes.. this is how I explained it.

She asked how many people died. Everyone who was still in the buildings when they fell and those above the impact.
How many people got hurt? lots including mama
The people in the airplanes? Dead including the bad men
Could they stop it? Not then no, but we can now.
Does it still hurt? Yes
Did you lose anyone? Yes
Are you afraid to fly or go up big buildings? no, because that means they win, and they can never win. So we fly every year at least once.

I answered her honestly.

Explaining 9/11 to a Six Year Old

Thank you, again ladies. The level of detail you have provided has really helped prepare me.

Re: Explaining 9/11 to a Six Year Old

I just had to talk to my 6 year old about this recently. We went to Ground Zero and he asked a few questions. He is very sensitive. I told him that some really, really bad people blew them up. He gets all that. I told him a lot of people died. He was ok with that. They will be learning all about it in school soon.