Mom Talk: How to Talk with Kids About Political and Social Events

It's a big, confusing and complicated world out there—and I mean that for adults. Even with all our years of wisdom and experience, the world can be a scary place that can be hard to wrap your head around.

The biggest story this week is undoubtedly the death of Osama bin Laden at the hands of the U.S. military. This story is literally everywhere—from magazines to televison and even dinner conversations at the family table.

It can be hard enough for adults to fully comprehend the situation, so when it comes to explaining world/ political/ social events to the kids, what's your approach?

How have you explained these recent events to your children? Do you feel they grasp an understanding of the situation? How do you decide what to tell and what to leave out, so as not to confuse them more? 

The events of late are a good starting point for this conversation, but it applies to everything from as far back as the civil rights movement, to the events of 9-11 and even things like Bill Clinton's impeachment.

In your lives as parents, where do you draw the line, and how do you approach the questions that kids will be asking?

Many times, even young children, already know more than we give them credit for.