How do you explain to an 8 year old what 9/11 is?

[The Insurance Guy]

Just like the title says. I had a tough time doing it this morning. I pulled out the newspaper from the next day and showed pics and used it to help explain.

What should I have said?

[AntlerCollector]

Bad guys attacked us. Then tell him everything when he's old enough to understand

[Charles]

KISS...Keep it real simple at that age.

[Dusty Britches]

I think you did it the right way. How did he respond?

When he's older and maybe more able to handle it, the videos are on youtube. I hope no one ever forgets and why we need to stand vigilant against all forms of terrorism.

[Stoof]

Me and the boy had a good talk this morning. He's 8. He knows the story already but to him it's has just been a story. We talked about what happened. The people who died and the ensuing wars. He is a war history sponge and can talk WWII history with the best. I always take the full disclosure route with my kids. If they can ask hard questions they deserve honest answers.

[Jmh05]

Yep, I would tell him how some fanatical terrorists decided to attack us, the planes, tower collapse and how many people died and it led to a decade plus of war.

[The Insurance Guy]

I did basically what everyone is saying. I said bad people attacked us and killed thousands of Americans. I briefly explained they stole planes and crashed them into the towers and pentagon. She really didn't have a big reaction. She listened and looked a little confused.

I told her on this day every year we need to think about and remember the ones who died.

I wonder if they are going to talk about it today in her school. I'm going to be upset if they don't.

[Limbwalker]

Bad guys attacked us. Then tell him everything when he's old enough to understand

Yup.

Think about what you remember from when you were 8. Not much.

I wouldn't lose any sleep over it. Just spend time with her. She will remember that.

[eradicator]

I did basically what everyone is saying. I said bad people attacked us and killed thousands of Americans. I briefly explained they stole planes and crashed them into the towers and pentagon. She really didn't have a big reaction. She listened and looked a little confused.

I told her on this day every year we need to think about and remember the ones who died.

I wonder if they are going to talk about it today in her school. I'm going to be upset if they don't.

My youngest daughters class made cards for the local firefighters in honor of 9/11. I was glad to see them acknowledge it

[150class]

A few very bad people killed thousands of good people

[stickman]

A few very bad people killed thousands of good people

X2. It's my daughters birthday so she knows quite a bit about it but she is now a little older.

[Avezorak]

I think its good to start explaining to kids at a young age. My 12 yo daughter and I observed a moment of silence before I dropped her off. She has been asking questions the last couple years. She has a pretty good grasp on it now

[MadHatter]

Tell him how crooked our government is, and what they allowed to happen. Explain how biased the media is, and how they made us think 2 jets just vaporized, yet one of the hijackers passports turned up in the rubble :-/. Tell him it was one of the greatest crimes ever perpetrated against the people of American people, by a group we helped fund. Tell him how we supposedly got the perp, but you can't see him and we're dump him in the Ocean so nothing can be proved. Tell him how many of the Navy seals that were on that mission have died since. And the list goes on. I feel for all the people who lost there lives, but I'm not pointing the blame where it's not. Tin foil hat on securely, flame away.

[The Insurance Guy]

Tell him how crooked our government is, and what they allowed to happen. Explain how biased the media is, and how they made us think 4 jets just vaporized, yet one of the hijackers passports turned up in the rubble :-/. Tell him it was one of the greatest crimes ever perpetrated against the people of American people, by a group we helped fund. Tell him how we supposedly got the perp, but you can't see him and we're dump him in the Ocean so nothing can be proved. Tell him how many of the Navy seals that were on that mission have died since. And the list goes on. I feel for all the people who lost there lives, but I'm not pointing the blame where it's not. Tin foil hat on securely, flame away.

All righty then

[BigFoot]

Tell him how crooked our government is, and what they allowed to happen. Explain how biased the media is, and how they made us think 2 jets just vaporized, yet one of the hijackers passports turned up in the rubble :-/. Tell him it was one of the greatest crimes ever perpetrated against the people of American people, by a group we helped fund. Tell him how we supposedly got the perp, but you can't see him and we're dump him in the Ocean so nothing can be proved. Tell him how many of the Navy seals that were on that mission have died since. And the list goes on. I feel for all the people who lost there lives, but I'm not pointing the blame where it's not. Tin foil hat on securely, flame away.

This should get interesting