What age should parents start telling kids how the "real world" works?

Question

Everything is very enteric/sugar coated for kids now days. I'm just wondering at what age should I explain the War going on, and the situation in this world to my kid age 5. Or, should I just keep spoonfeeding him the Teletubbies and Dr. Sears until he is 17?? He's already asking what "terrorisim" is. Because he "sees it on the news all the time".

Answer 1

Why lie to your kids? The world is a big place, with 6.5 billion people in it, and resources to support about 2/3 of that, comfortably, 5/6 of that UNcomfortably, and the current population with some people being cut out completely, which is why there's so much poverty, and hence the hate and discontent on TV. I would shut the teletubbies OFF. If you can't sit through it, why should he? Then again, there's other shows that are just for kids, that aren't just an advertising bed for breakfast cereal.

Answer 2

I think kids should be very aware of real life situations on the news such as abuse, corruption, war and explain what terrorism is (and if you don't know how, ask about it on Y! Answers). This sorta stuff will make them down to earth and you will be making your son into a caring person who will wanna stop all this in the future, and aid the world by being a nice person.
I got shouted at by my aunty for telling my 6 year old cousin the tooth fairy is non existent, so I'm guessing that's something they kinda have to figure out. I guess they sorta know, just let it on em gently.
I think sexual stuff should be kept away from them. It's better to be protected from that imo because it takes away their innocence too much.
I think stop the teletubbies now, no child should have to suffer through that.

Answer 3

i believe as soon as a kid starts going through puberty that thierparents should start letting them know how the real world works, but not all at once the should take it a little at a time depending on the aage of there child. i believe the younger the better because then they wont be so worried about what life is going to be like once they get out there on there own. sometimes i wish my parents would have been like that with me i had to face it all at once and it is a big rush. it is better to learn before they get to the real world

Answer 4

I think children should be educated from day one. If mine ask then I answer as honestly as I can, but I fit it to their level of understanding. A five year old isn't going to understand things like a ten year old might. Good luck! My husband is in Iraq for the second time and my 21 month old is going to be shocked when some guy comes to live with us and he doesn't know who he is even though it's his daddy. It's much harder to raise children nowaday's.

Answer 5

76

Answer 6

I don't lie to my toddler and preschooler. I do scale the talk to age appropriate information and words. My son (4 years old) is empathic and well informed.

Answer 7

my 6 yr old knows that there is a war where people are fighting to keep our country safe. that is how we explained it as far as terrorism she hasn't asked about that, but i would explain it in as simple way as you can with out getting overly graphic.

Answer 8

when they get 11,12,or 13.
when they get 12 they should NO whether they want to go to h e ll or heaven they should no whether they want to be wrong or right GOD started learNing about life when he was 12

Answer 9

Right from the time you begin to teach .

Answer 10

tell him as soon as you can you never know when something might happen and your kid is just sitting there without a clue.