Are you Talking to Your Kids About the Devastation in Haiti?

Manuela - posted on 01/30/2010

I can not do it right now , because my kids will not understand it, they are too young, but they will here about because I am a haitian, I came here when I was 14 years old, I am one of the lucky one, who escaped, but my roots are still back there, my mother and my two sisters are safe and I am trying with every fiber of my being to bring them here as soon as possible, because the fear of not knowing if they were ok after the earthquake is unbearable, my kids will know because their blood line began in Haiti.

Dixie - posted on 01/28/2010

When my son asked what happen i explained it to him. We watched a show on tv that was raising money for Haiti and my son was amazed at what some of the surviors went thru to find their families. His school is takin up cans and the $ from the cans gets donated to helping Haiti. Today we was on the way home and out of the blue tells me he wants to go to Haiti to help... It just touches me that lil ones also think of other ppl not just about toys and dirt (boys)... when we got home i told him that we almost had a third bag of can for him to bring in to school.. He was sooooo excited.... He hasn't asked about things happening here.. but how we can help..... God's love shines thru lil one's too.

Martina - posted on 01/24/2010

At my 10 yr old daugther's school all the students raised over a $1,280.00 for Haiti in one day. So she was very proud to know that they all were able to help.

Martina - posted on 01/24/2010

The first thing to do is if we believe in God we should pray, study the bible, and make an effort to practice God's will. In the scriptures we find peace and hope for a future with no more death, destruction or sickness for those who follow God's teaching.

Sandra - posted on 01/24/2010

I am a realist so to speak, I do not believe in covering life with fluff so my child can be blindsided later. So we have chosen to sit down as a family and watch the heart-wrenching results of this tragedy and talk about it and life.

KATRINA - posted on 01/23/2010

YES.. I HAVE A 6 AND 2 YEAR OLD. NY 6 YEAR (SON) WAS WONDERING WHY THE PEOPLE WERE LOOKING THE WAY THEY DID. WE SAT DOWN AND I TOLD HIM ALL ABOUT IT. WE THEN GO ON THE COOMPUTER AND LOOKED IT UP. HE WAS VERY INTERESTED IN WAT WAS GOIN ON.. SO HE ASKED ME COULD HE SEND THEM A DONATION CAUSE HE HEARD PEOPLE WERE SENDING MONEY. I TOLD HIM I WOULD BUT HE INSITED ON USING HIS MONEY. I WAS SO PROUD OF HIM WANTING TO HELP THE PEOPLE IN NEED. I TOLD HIM THEY WOULD BE VERY GRATEFUL FOR HIM. HE REPLYED MOMMY I DID IT FOR THE BABIES SO THEY COULD HE CAUSE I WOULDNT WANT THEM TO BE HUNGRY AND LEAVE THEIR MOMMIES. SO I WAS LIKE I WOULD SEND IT FOR THE ADULTS. AFTERWARDS HE SHOCKED ME CAUSE HE SAID MOMMY LETS PRAY TO GOD TO HELP THEM. I TOLD HIM OKAY. BUT I WANTED HIM TO KNO NOT TO DO IT JUST BECAUSE HTEY ARE BLACK BUT BECAUSE THEY ARE PEOPLE JUST LIKE US AND EVERYBODY IS EQUAL. HE TOLD ME HE LIKED ALL PEOPLE. THANK GOD HE GAVE ME AN EDUCATED CHILD THAT SEE BEYOND COLOR.

Angie - posted on 01/21/2010

I think it is important to talk about it if they see it on the news, in the paper or hear of it at school. They need to know that these things can and will happen. If you shelter or hide them from things like this when they get older it will be harder to deal with, in my opinion.

Shauna - posted on 01/20/2010

I have 3 kids ages 1, 3, and 5. My 3 and 5 year old watched the news with us and they were asking questions as the reporter was showing the buildings and people. We told them all about it and we showed them on a map where it was. My 5 yr old asked me what we could do to help them. So we went through the house and got all sheets, clothing, unopened bottles of soaps, and anything else we could and then we went to our neighbors and asked them if they wanted to help too. We are still collecting items through his school and at my job. I think it is very important to show the kids the way life is. the way everybody lives differently and looks differently and how to accept all the differences and how helping someone can make such a huge difference! Every year before christmas we have them go through their toy box and they each get a bag to donate the toys they chose to other children.

Amanda - posted on 01/18/2010

Hi, I definitely feel how you feel. My 10 year old asked me the same question as well. My husband explained to him the poor structure of the buildings there and thankfully, my son is aware of the difference. Also, being we live in Los Angeles, the museum has an earthquake exhibit that explains the engineering of the buildings in L.A. as well as a part where the floor shakes as if an earthquake just happened. Although we cannot financially assist in the help, we do donate clothes and toys for these types of misfortunes and we are not those to ask for receipts or try to deduct this on our next tax return. We basically do this so our kids learn the value of sharing and also helping and most important, how to value the life they are able to live in our own states compared to the countries less fortunate. We also take this time to practice our own plans if there were an earthquake such as what to do, where are the best places in our home to go for cover and also, where to meet should we become seperated. It helps them to feel better and more aware of how things can happen from one minute to the next.