My son 7 came home from school the other day and asked me what racism was i hope i explained it ok and he seemed to go away understanding.But this has happened numerous times and i always think of what to say off the top of my head sometimes telling him things that are not strictly true e.g he heard on evening news the word rape he asked what it was i told him "it,s when a man kisses a lady and she doesnt want him to", i couldnt think of a suitable way to explain to a 7 yr old.Do other parents have same problem or are you all prepared for such questions?Id like to always be honest with him but never know the terms or words to use.
2006-11-28 03:42:15 · 10 answers · asked by smiler 4 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
You have to make things age appropriate. With racism I'd just explain it like it is. Its when people hate eachother because of their skin color, or where they were born.
As for sexual things, I think its okay to water them down. Although you can make it more serious, so he understands that even boys can be in danger too, by explaining that things like rape are wrong, because its when another person tries to mess with your private parts and they dont let you get away. And that its very wrong, and no one should ever try to look at, or touch him in that way. Then you've made it a serious offense in his mind, and taught him some boundries for his safety.
Once he's older you can come back to the rape issue and explain it for what it completely is.
2006-11-28 03:45:33 · answer #1 · answered by amosunknown 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Parents have to explain ugly things to kids sometimes. We all try to do our best. Most of it has to do with the Golden Rule, though, and that's where I usually start. If somebody is being mean, whether it's racism or assault or whatever, I start by explaining that there are different words for being mean. I don't go into detail (I can understand feeling weird about explaining rape to a 7-year-old). But my kids get it that being mean to other people is bad, no matter what you call it. Kids are smarter than adults sometimes.
2006-11-28 03:52:32 · answer #2 · answered by KD 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a 7 year old daughter. When she asks me things, I am honest with her, and explain them in terms she can easily understand. If my daughter asked my what rape is, I would have told her it's when one person tries to have sex with another person that doesn't want to. I wouldn't get into the violence of it.
Children, today, are not stupid. Things are plastered all over the news, and kids talk about these things at school. We try to shield our kids, but that is not the way to go. Kids need to be informed and know the truth.
2006-11-28 03:53:49 · answer #3 · answered by *me* 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you can explain ANYTHING to a child by just not giving them any more information than what they ask for.
examples:
when my daughter first came home after birth my son (who was 4 at the time) asked me "mommy where is Talissa's penis?" i simply said "girls dont have penises" to which he said "why" i told hm "she doesnt need one because she is a girl" he asked me "why is she a girl" and i said "because she doesnt hav a penis" and he was happy with that.
my neighbors son was watching bad boys 2 and asked his mom what a painful erection was. she told him an erection was when a penis got hard he said "like when i go pee" she said yes, then it hurts. he was fine with that (although a little afraid of it hurting when he pees
with the rape question, at 7 i would think a child has a basic idea of sex, so i would have told him what it was with out going into detail. so far my kids havent really thrown any curvballs my way but i am not afraid. like i said ONLY give them the information they ask for
2006-11-28 03:52:52 · answer #4 · answered by Tissa 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know he's only 7, but you need to be as open and honest with him as you can. Racism is not liking someone for their skin color, religion, etc. Just because someone is different doesn't make them less...just different. As for the question on rape, have you not spoken to him about sex? Kids nowadays are subjected to so much stuff, you would be surprised what he really knows. I started talking to my girls at about age 7 about that stuff.
2006-11-28 03:48:50 · answer #5 · answered by Mommymonster 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Racism is when someone judges you based on race alone.
You are doing the right thing. You should respond at a level that he can understand. Make sure you know what he is asking first, then answer and get feedback to see if he is satisfied with the answer.
2006-11-28 03:45:57 · answer #6 · answered by Racewalking Invicta Swami 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First and foremost, RAPE is not Gender bias. You do not have to be female to be raped and, if you are trying to be as honest as you say you are to your child then, you are not doing them any favors in telling a one sided story.
Also. unless the person being labeled as "racist", belongs to a (White, Black, Asian), or whatever color they are, only club, they aren't racist. They are actually in fact either Bigoted or Prejudiced.
2006-11-28 04:09:14 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i have a great book called questions children ask and how to answer them it has different answers relating to their age it has helped me many times over the years
2006-11-28 03:46:50 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm glad that my mom told me everything truthfully. You should just tell him so that he will not go to his peers and ask them.
2006-11-28 03:51:36 · answer #9 · answered by tonja20770 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
just tell him that it's when somebody dosen't like another person because of their race or where they come from.
2006-11-28 03:45:11 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋