It's sad to see our kids witnessing such horrific events like the killings and bombings in Mumbai, political rallies and unrest in Bangkok, and many others like the 911 attacks. They often ask us why people kill and hurt others when it's not nice to do these bad things. These are very simple questions but are very difficult to answer. If only people are as wise as our kids and ask themselves these questions first before even thinking of doing harm to others.

How do we as parents, guardians and teachers help our kids make sense of all these violence when we ourselves also can't make sense of all these senseless killings and bombings? Also, how can we give them assurances that these acts of terrorism will not happen in our lands?

I'm totally honest with my kids when they ask these questions.  If I don't know the answer, I tell them, if it is something I can find out, we look it up together. I want my kids to know that there are dangers everywhere and while we shouldn't live in fear, we should always be aware of what is happening around us.

I have a picture of us all at the top of the world trade center only weeks before the towers came down, and my childhood friend worked on the 52nd floor of WTC2, so it was a reality to them, not just a story on the news.  They worried, like we all did in the days after 9-11, but I sat them down and we talked about some of the reasons why other countries did not like us and why sometimes that kind of anger makes people do horrible things.

My kids ask about parents that abuse their kids, or leave them in strange places, they ask about people who bully and people who don't defend themselves … I take these questions as times to talk about what they think is right or how they would behave in the same situations.  I tell them that they are the ones who can make the world a better place and what they take from bad situations will shape the adult they become.

I read a Christian prayer saying, “When there is hatred, let us sow love. When there is war, let us sow peace.” I think that this is a very good prayer and we should also sow love in our children instead of hatred.

I agree … children pick up on our likes and dislikes, and that includes the way we treat other people.  I try to help my children see that the differences in cultures and other people are good things, not things to use against them.  I want them to be open minded and embrace the new things that people bring into their lives.