How do we explain Paris to our children?

[Foxedshoes]

We have two, aged 8 and 10. We were in Paris recently. They will be frightened by this. How do I explain it?

I'm thinking about taking flowers to French embassy this aft (getting on tube. Gulp) to focus on a note of sympathy rather than fear or hate ( not that I'll be bringing hate into it but our 10 year old gets very angry about injustice and prejudice so she'll be pretty upset with people who did this).

But what's the best way to explain this stuff?!

[Iwantakitchen]

Mine are 8 and 9 and I told them first thing so they wouldn't hear it or see it online. I explained that many people were killed in Paris, by shooters and bombers, that don't know yet who did it, and that people we know who live in Paris are ok.

I told them that there will be images online and on tv and that they should not watch as it is very upsetting.

At the moment we don't know who did it so I left it at that. I will not leave tv on news channels for them to see and will not have the radio on. Limited access to Internet this weekend for them.

[BrendaandEddie]

You TURN THE TV off and stop making a fuss

[Foxedshoes]

Thanks to JillJ72 on another thread for this link which has some sound advice, I think
www.quickanddirtytips.com/health-fitness/mental-health/how-to-talk-to-kids-about-terrorism-and-violence?page=1

[Glittermud]

Keep some perspective and answer questions if they have them. The main purpose of this attack was to spread fear and I refuse to help that. More people die in cars...

[Foxedshoes]

Yes, thanks Brenda and eddy, we have a news ban for now - we have a sleepover child so will wait until both children are home and, following advice in link to focus on steps we take for security and all those working hard to keep us safe, reassure that most people are good and terrorists are unusual, and then take flowers so they can 'take action' and we will donate if/when there is a fund.
And a 'fuss' was never on the cards.

[R0nJ0n]

It's not making a fuss, and unless your children never spend any time away from you and you have a complete media black out in your house for the next few weeks, they're going to hear about it from somewhere.

Many of our children, mine included, have been to Paris. They know it's not far away, they'll want to ask questions and be concerned for their own safety. We need to know how to talk to our children about terroists because it's something that's not going away.

[stareatthetvscreen]

people die every day the world over in the name of war disease and terrorism

its no different to the refugees drowning or the russian plane being bombed

thats what i say to mine anyway

[AuntieStella]

www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/34819597

The BBC Newsround page is always a good starting point for how to explain news stories to children.

[R0nJ0n]

I think it is different, because it's closer to home, as the crow flys I live nearer to Paris than I do to Liverpool, Manchester, Cardiff, Bristol, and so on. That's not to say that any death from war or terrorism isn't tragic, and that the lives of Northern Europeans are somehow worth more that those of people who live further away, but a violent event close by is always going to be more shocking.