Wanting to out do another violent act is just an example of how inconsiderate, uncompassionate and desensitized our society has become. All the pain suffered from teasing and being an outcast is not nearly as tremendous as the grief felt by parents, friends, peers and the nation after an event such as what has taken place in Columbine or Santana. Parents and children need to have communication. Not only about what goes on at school or what the kid watches on television, but more importantly about what the child thinks and feels about what is going on at school and what was seen on the television. Expression of feelings and ideas is crucial to a child s development.
Information is easy to come by.
Turn on the tube and channel surf for 15 minutes and a wide variety of images and comments will flow right in front of you. Just walk down the street and you will see things you don t understand. We, as adults see these things as easily as children, but because we are adults we should take the opportunity to explain the circumstances, the consequences and the morals of such actions and events to children. Simply taking the time to ask a child about what they feel could have enormous effects. It can make the child feel intelligent and important.