Moms Talk: Explaining Disasters to Your Children

Back in the olden days, there were maybe five or six channels on the TV. The newspaper came either in the morning or the afternoon. The news came on at 6 p.m. sharp and was 30 minutes long. The only source for 24-hour news was the radio.

How times have changed. And that change has presented a challenge for parents.

Back when John F. Kennedy was assassinated. or when Challenger exploded, there wasn't quite the bombardment of images, information, conjecture and theorizing as there is today, thanks the the Internet.

When news happens today, Mom just can't turn off the TV if she doesn't want her kids seeing upsetting images. Kids can see it all on their computers, on their friends' computers, and on their smart phones.

Take the recent earthquake and tsunami that has devastated parts of Japan. There have been photos and video showing utter devastation that are tough for adults to look at.

Seeing whole towns destroyed, homes washed away and hearing grown-ups talk about things like "nuclear reactor" and "meltown" in worried voices can all be upsetting for kids.

Understanding what your kids need to talk about, and hear from you, is essential. Sharing with your children can also be a good growth experience for them to develop empathy and compassion. You can give them ideas to help those affected by the disaster.

Have your kids been upset by anything they've seen, heard or read about this disaster? What are some of your ideas for helping kids understand what happened without giving them nightmares?