4th grader hasn't asked despite watching the news. She's worried about the pedophile softball coach though.

I can't even imagine being that young and knowing my friend had died. it's likely the boys who told OP's son were in shock and fear.

I was in college before one of my childhood friends died and I cried like a baby for weeks. An elementary-school aged child learning that such gruesome acts are even possible in their world, let alone that it happened to their friend, is going to extremely painful. I doubt they are sensationalizing it.

I think OP should tell her son to avoid anyone discussing the murderers and only come to her for information.

Anonymous wrote:I don't watch or listen to the news much for this very reason so to the poster who went all crazy about someone not knowing: maybe you should re-think your reaction. Some people stay away from the news on purpose. US scare tactics when it comes to what's reported in the media doesn't sit well with everyone and some of us prefer to not know things that serve no other purpose than to scare us. Thanks.

who went all crazy?

We said, "A boy and his family was killed last week, it is different than the one in Potomac. The boy is a student at St. Alban's, 4th grade. (my son's have friends there and figured they would hear it sooner or later) Did you hear about it? (they said no) It is was really terrible and sad and extremely unusual, which is why it is all over the news. If you want to talk about it let us know but it is not really polite to discuss this at length around other people you don't know because somebody may know the boy and it might upset them."

They asked, how did they die.

We said, "It's not completely clear, stabbed or hit real hard. Then they burned the house, people do that to hide evidence."

That was about it.

Anonymous wrote:I don't watch or listen to the news much for this very reason so to the poster who went all crazy about someone not knowing: maybe you should re-think your reaction. Some people stay away from the news on purpose. US scare tactics when it comes to what's reported in the media doesn't sit well with everyone and some of us prefer to not know things that serve no other purpose than to scare us. Thanks.

Then why did you ask what happened?

I don't watch or listen to the news much for this very reason so to the poster who went all crazy about someone not knowing: maybe you should re-think your reaction. Some people stay away from the news on purpose. US scare tactics when it comes to what's reported in the media doesn't sit well with everyone and some of us prefer to not know things that serve no other purpose than to scare us. Thanks.

Anonymous wrote:what happened?

Seriously???

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/471170.page

what happened?

Well the loss of that poor child happened in an unbelievably gruesome manner. So the two are inseparable.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And if your kids are merely friends of friends, perhaps you need to monitor who is discussing it to the point of making them "scared out of their minds." It's not something to be making drama about and riling up friends of friends. I assume these kids are all about the age of 10. Kids like drama and feeling like they are news reporters. They are likely repeating what they hear at home.

No you have this wrong. The facts, all by themselves, are quite enough to frighten kids. And adults. But definitely kids. Please don't assume that the friends of the child are being overly dramatic.

My 10 year old doesn't know. (I get news online so we never have a tv on for that) If he/she did, it would be because a child said something.

Correct. And in OPs post she very clearly states that her child is friends with kids who were friends of the little boy. Now if these kids are talking about the death in gruesome details, op can help her child navigate that. If they are simply mourning the loss of their friend and talking about it, that's completely normal.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And if your kids are merely friends of friends, perhaps you need to monitor who is discussing it to the point of making them "scared out of their minds." It's not something to be making drama about and riling up friends of friends. I assume these kids are all about the age of 10. Kids like drama and feeling like they are news reporters. They are likely repeating what they hear at home.

No you have this wrong. The facts, all by themselves, are quite enough to frighten kids. And adults. But definitely kids. Please don't assume that the friends of the child are being overly dramatic.

My 10 year old doesn't know. (I get news online so we never have a tv on for that) If he/she did, it would be because a child said something.

Anonymous wrote:And if your kids are merely friends of friends, perhaps you need to monitor who is discussing it to the point of making them "scared out of their minds." It's not something to be making drama about and riling up friends of friends. I assume these kids are all about the age of 10. Kids like drama and feeling like they are news reporters. They are likely repeating what they hear at home.

No you have this wrong. The facts, all by themselves, are quite enough to frighten kids. And adults. But definitely kids. Please don't assume that the friends of the child are being overly dramatic.

And if your kids are merely friends of friends, perhaps you need to monitor who is discussing it to the point of making them "scared out of their minds." It's not something to be making drama about and riling up friends of friends. I assume these kids are all about the age of 10. Kids like drama and feeling like they are news reporters. They are likely repeating what they hear at home.

Anonymous wrote:My children know a couple of kids who were friends with the little boy who died. As such, they were told right away about the horrific events. They are frightened out of their minds. Please help me explain the tragedy to them. What would you say?

It may be worth mentioning that this doesn't appear to be an arbitrary crime. Police are suggesting the perpetrator(s) had knowledge of the family. That doesn't necessarily make it loads more palatable for children but may dilute the random nature that makes it more scary.

My children know a couple of kids who were friends with the little boy who died. As such, they were told right away about the horrific events. They are frightened out of their minds. Please help me explain the tragedy to them. What would you say?