Somebody Talk to the Kids

I homeschool, and shield them a bit, but they're still young. I answer all their questions honestly, and I have covered some history with them that made them cry (9/11, civil rights movement, that kind of thing). I think each child is ready for certain things at a different age, so their personality is a huge factor when deciding what to talk to them about.

I was very sheltered as a kid. I didnt read our newspaper the school called The Weekly Reader. My daughter was sheltered too. However, when my daughter married a political buff, she came into her own. She knows her history, her politics and all that is happening in the wolf. I'm happy she grew.

As a homeschool parent I observed a lot of the parents that shielded their children...in fact, I'm sure that's why they homeschooled. Of course, I can't say that I blame them. I'm one of those who tends to not watch or keep up with world news. I have enough problems in my own home!

We always talked about "dangers" to our child. We started with a storybook about talking to strangers, the Berenstein Bears books were big at this time, and they helped put what we were saying into pictures. We had him in swimming lessons at age 3 so that he could know water safety, and that continued until he was older. We handled the good/bad touches each of us. Even little children know the difference and the places. By talking about these things so young he wasn't afraid to come to us in his older years, which was a real relief. And he still comes to us for advise, and he's a 26 year old man now!

I think I just explained things to my children as we went along. There was no big session, when they asked questions I just answered as best I could.

I tried to shield my son from the horrors of the world throughout most of elementary school.

I have nephew and it's really hard to tallk to him to get to understand things.

When my kids were little and they asked questions about anything, I answered those questions truthfully ... it's better that they heard the truth at home rather than finding out the wrong information outside the home ..

I don't know if my brother is telling them about the real world, but I don't think they are shielded from it.

At the age when my kids asked questions about the world I was honest with them.

I'm too old to remember much of this stuff. Through their teenage years I think my boys knew more than me about what was going on.

it is difficult to answer some of their questions.