talking to toddlers about Iraq

"Ignoramus4027" wrote in message
...
I have a 2.5 year old son and sometimes I tell him about Iraq, just to
keep him informed about the latest developments. To avoid grisly
stuff, I just mention to him that soldiers were sent to Iraq (he knows
a little bit about soldiers), that it is very hot there, that the
Iraqis do not want soldiers there, and that the soldiers want to go
home as well but are not allowed. He also has a remote controlled
tank. We build "Baghdad" out of various wood blocks and then destroy
it with the tank's rockets and treads. No deaths are mentioned, just
destruction of wood structures. He knows how to shoot rickets and how
to move the tank back and forth, although he cannot yet execute turns
or aim the turret.

Would you consider this to be an age appropriate introduction to Iraq?

Well, my marine son is in Afghanistan, and all I've told my 3 year old
grandson is where he's at.

"**Debby**" wrote in message
s.com...

Well, my marine son is in Afghanistan, and all I've told my 3 year old
grandson is where he's at.

I'm assuming your son is your grandson's father? That would definitely be
different.

I don't know how much I'd tell a child if my husband were going to fight in
a war (probably something like he's in XYZ country doing his work), but I
certainly wouldn't be having him play with tanks and destroying a city
called Baghdad. Basically acting out war.

--
JennP.

mom to Matthew 10/11/00
remove "no........spam" to reply

"Ignoramus4027" wrote in message
...
I have a 2.5 year old son and sometimes I tell him about Iraq, just to
keep him informed about the latest developments. To avoid grisly
stuff, I just mention to him that soldiers were sent to Iraq (he knows
a little bit about soldiers), that it is very hot there, that the
Iraqis do not want soldiers there, and that the soldiers want to go
home as well but are not allowed.

Nothing like an early indoctrination in propaganda. This is pure BS.

He also has a remote controlled
tank. We build "Baghdad" out of various wood blocks and then destroy
it with the tank's rockets and treads. No deaths are mentioned, just
destruction of wood structures. He knows how to shoot rickets and how
to move the tank back and forth, although he cannot yet execute turns
or aim the turret.

Would you consider this to be an age appropriate introduction to Iraq?

Absolutely not.

Martha

"**Debby**" wrote in message
s.com...

"Ignoramus4027" wrote in message
...
I have a 2.5 year old son and sometimes I tell him about Iraq, just to
keep him informed about the latest developments. To avoid grisly
stuff, I just mention to him that soldiers were sent to Iraq (he knows
a little bit about soldiers), that it is very hot there, that the
Iraqis do not want soldiers there, and that the soldiers want to go
home as well but are not allowed. He also has a remote controlled
tank. We build "Baghdad" out of various wood blocks and then destroy
it with the tank's rockets and treads. No deaths are mentioned, just
destruction of wood structures. He knows how to shoot rickets and how
to move the tank back and forth, although he cannot yet execute turns
or aim the turret.

Would you consider this to be an age appropriate introduction to Iraq?

Well, my marine son is in Afghanistan, and all I've told my 3 year old
grandson is where he's at.

Thank you and God bless your son. The brave men and women are in my thoughts
daily.

I've adopted a Marine in Iraq. We write to each other a lot and I send him
packages of cookies and things they need. He tells me that the majority
Iraqis are soooo happy the soldiers are there and the soldiers feel very
proud for helping them reach freedom.

Martha

"JennP" wrote in message
. net...

"**Debby**" wrote in message
s.com...

Well, my marine son is in Afghanistan, and all I've told my 3 year old
grandson is where he's at.

I'm assuming your son is your grandson's father? That would definitely be
different.

I don't know how much I'd tell a child if my husband were going to fight
in
a war (probably something like he's in XYZ country doing his work), but I
certainly wouldn't be having him play with tanks and destroying a city
called Baghdad. Basically acting out war.

--
JennP.

mom to Matthew 10/11/00
remove "no........spam" to reply

No, my son is the uncle, sorry, I should have made that clear..

"MH" wrote in message
...

"**Debby**" wrote in message
s.com...

"Ignoramus4027" wrote in message
...
I have a 2.5 year old son and sometimes I tell him about Iraq, just to
keep him informed about the latest developments. To avoid grisly
stuff, I just mention to him that soldiers were sent to Iraq (he knows
a little bit about soldiers), that it is very hot there, that the
Iraqis do not want soldiers there, and that the soldiers want to go
home as well but are not allowed. He also has a remote controlled
tank. We build "Baghdad" out of various wood blocks and then destroy
it with the tank's rockets and treads. No deaths are mentioned, just
destruction of wood structures. He knows how to shoot rickets and how
to move the tank back and forth, although he cannot yet execute turns
or aim the turret.

Would you consider this to be an age appropriate introduction to Iraq?

Well, my marine son is in Afghanistan, and all I've told my 3 year old
grandson is where he's at.

Thank you and God bless your son. The brave men and women are in my
thoughts
daily.

I've adopted a Marine in Iraq. We write to each other a lot and I send him
packages of cookies and things they need. He tells me that the majority
Iraqis are soooo happy the soldiers are there and the soldiers feel very
proud for helping them reach freedom.

Martha

Thanks for your kind words. Although my son is in Afghanistan and not Iraq,
he is still in danger.
I keep telling him to watch where he steps(landmines), and to be very
careful, to keep his eyes open.

"**Debby**" wrote in message
s.com...

"MH" wrote in message
...

"**Debby**" wrote in message
s.com...

"Ignoramus4027" wrote in message
...
I have a 2.5 year old son and sometimes I tell him about Iraq, just
to
keep him informed about the latest developments. To avoid grisly
stuff, I just mention to him that soldiers were sent to Iraq (he
knows
a little bit about soldiers), that it is very hot there, that the
Iraqis do not want soldiers there, and that the soldiers want to go
home as well but are not allowed. He also has a remote controlled
tank. We build "Baghdad" out of various wood blocks and then destroy
it with the tank's rockets and treads. No deaths are mentioned, just
destruction of wood structures. He knows how to shoot rickets and
how
to move the tank back and forth, although he cannot yet execute
turns
or aim the turret.

Would you consider this to be an age appropriate introduction to
Iraq?

Well, my marine son is in Afghanistan, and all I've told my 3 year old
grandson is where he's at.

Thank you and God bless your son. The brave men and women are in my
thoughts
daily.

I've adopted a Marine in Iraq. We write to each other a lot and I send
him
packages of cookies and things they need. He tells me that the majority
Iraqis are soooo happy the soldiers are there and the soldiers feel very
proud for helping them reach freedom.

Martha

Thanks for your kind words. Although my son is in Afghanistan and not
Iraq,
he is still in danger.
I keep telling him to watch where he steps(landmines), and to be very
careful, to keep his eyes open.

Yes, of course, and even though they know, they still like hearing it from
Mom. : )

Martha

"Ignoramus4027" wrote in message
...
In article , determined wrote:

"JennP" wrote in message

Would you consider this to be an age appropriate introduction to
Iraq?

HELL NO. Children will get all to familiar with the awful things going
on
in this world early enough as it is. There is nothing wrong (IMO) with
sheltering young children from things they couldn't possibly grasp, that
would only serve to cause them fear and insecurity...

But I am not telling him anything scary, I do not show him corpses
like this: http://igor.chudov.com/tmp/iraqi.jpg

nothing of this sort. Just a kosher version of events, sad, but not
heartbreaking. Re-read my original post.

FWIW, if he's too young for the gory details, he's too young, period.
What's the point of bringing it up if he's just getting a kosher version?
War isn't kosher, but if that's what you're teaching him, he's getting the
wrong idea. He'll learn enough about it when he's older. Let him be a kid.

**Debby** wrote:

"Well, my marine son is in Afghanistan, and all I've told my 3 year old
grandson is where he's at.

Same - my husband was in Afgh. for 9 months last year and my daughter was
2...I just explained that daddy was on a long trip helping other people (he
was medical staff). Thats all she needed to know. We looked at a map, we
talked about when he'd be back, etc, but nothing about guns, violence, the
horrific effects of war on everyone involved, no politics, nothing, just
that we were proud of him for helping out. The other stuff is too violent
and too disturbing, small kids have no business seeing or hearing about such
realities. Eventually when they can understand the bigger picture, maybe,
but not something so abstract that is so horrific for kids under 5.

cara

"jmorgan" wrote in message
...


**Debby** wrote:

"Well, my marine son is in Afghanistan, and all I've told my 3 year old
grandson is where he's at.

Same - my husband was in Afgh. for 9 months last year and my daughter was
2...I just explained that daddy was on a long trip helping other people
(he
was medical staff). Thats all she needed to know. We looked at a map, we
talked about when he'd be back, etc, but nothing about guns, violence, the
horrific effects of war on everyone involved, no politics, nothing, just
that we were proud of him for helping out. The other stuff is too violent
and too disturbing, small kids have no business seeing or hearing about
such
realities. Eventually when they can understand the bigger picture, maybe,
but not something so abstract that is so horrific for kids under 5.

cara

I agree... My son is the uncle and not the dad, so my grandson doesn't
really ask very many questions, just "Where's Danny?", so I told him. It's
funny hearing him trying to pronounce "Afghanistan"!