My 6 yr-old niece had an 8 yr-old friend over yesterday with a number of adult family members. The 8 yr-old was telling us about someone telling her scary things about ghosts and that she was scared and woke up at night afraid of them.
In order to soothe the 8 yr-old and not freak out the 6 yr-old, every adult at the table said "I've never seen a ghost. I don't believe they are real. I think that other person was trying to scare you".
To be honest, I have seen and believe in ghosts.
Do you think it was wrong to lie to these kids? Or is it best to lie, not let them be freaked out right now, and possibly deal with this when they are older and more able to handle things?
I'm not the parent so I would go along with the parents decision (which i did). I just don't know if maybe we should have told the truth, let the kids be freaked but also tell them ghosts are nothing to be afraid of. Although they wouldn't be waking *me* up in the middle of the night - LOL.
2007-12-10 00:04:13 · 6 answers · asked by nova_queen_28 7 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Grade-Schooler
My son and I have talked about ghosts. He's 8 1/2. He himself isn't afraid, knows that many spirits are the good kind, possibly watching over him. He knows that I have seen my grandparents after they had passed, and he loves the fact that his great grandmother has visited me -- he was able to get to know her for the first 2 1/2 years of his life and remembers her fondly.
This is something for which discretion is necessary. If it comes to your own children, then it's okay to discuss, but if it has to do with other children, then you really don't want to step in and say something that their own parents aren't willing to talk about with them. (Did that make sense?)
2007-12-10 00:16:34 · answer #1 · answered by AV 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Although I've never seen or experienced supernatural things, I do have family members who have. When my cousin was murdered my family hired a private investigator and as a last resort a psychic.
According to my family, the similiarities described by this "world renowned" psychic was amazing. The spot where they found her body was identical to what was described by the psychic. I also heard of other supernatural occurences that happend on the drive home leaving the site where here body was buried.
The entire family believed something happened, including a rainbow and some doves that flew by on the way home when my aunt was freaking out. Now, I think it could be construed as something they thought up, maybe it wasn't doves that flew by maybe it was just birds, maybe they didn't really see a rainbow. I don't know, I wasn't there and I'm a skeptic.
Needless to say being a skeptic I'm told could be why I don't see or notice little things or why it's hard to get through to my human flesh from the "other side". I don't know.
So to answer your question though I believe when a child asks a real question they should not be lied to but told the truth. For example, if a child asks how babies are born, I don't believe you should tell them about storks, you should tell them about a man and a women being together and having a relationship can bring about a child. Without getting into sexual content, you can very correctly explain to a child how things works so they're educated when those issues arise.
I don't believe however telling a child that ghosts do exist is the way to go. Aside from the fact that most people might think you're a little looney, the chances a child will see a ghost are slim to none. And if ghosts really do exist, I think it's best they find out for themselves and be scared that that time (or not). Versus you putting images in their head of ghosts when chances are they'll never see one.
Best wishes.
2007-12-10 00:18:47 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Educating about the supernatural should certainly be left for when they are young adults. Little kids cannot rationalize that kind of information it becomes to frightening to them. I tell my son there are no such things as ghosts but there are angels and sometimes some people do see them and that they are good and God sends them to watch over us and look after us. Chances of people seeing ghosts are 1 - 20 million so why unnerve them unnecessarily.
2007-12-10 00:20:46 · answer #3 · answered by sioxpauxmom 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
wow.......is not bcuz you wanna LIE to them....parent just trying to protect their kids for being SCARED of it........i do believed that's there is a ghost...i've been seeing one at my new apartment (its a kid)...at first i was so scared to get up at middle of the night alone......but now i kinda get used to it.....lol
2007-12-10 05:02:43 · answer #4 · answered by angel 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Whether ghosts are real or not is purely opinion... so you didnt tell them honestly your opinion on it... but they didnt need to hear it....
Why do we tell children Santa exhists... thats also a lie... but its one they like and makes then happy... you were just making them feel safe. Perfectly Fine to do that.
2007-12-10 00:16:35 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
it's wrong they'll grow up thinking that supernatural things are real and though you tell them that it was a lie then they'll grow up thinking that you lied to them and possibly expand the thought, they would obstinately think that maybe you lied to them about other things too and then they'll lose their trust in you and possibly in other adults. They may find it hard to believe in the other things that you tell them though it's true.
2007-12-10 00:10:54 · answer #6 · answered by scotch 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋