Hawk13

That's simple - please use the following link, watch the "instructional video" and all your questions will be answered

The Meaning of Life (1983) - IMDb

Please note that this may be perceived by some as brainwashing.

BristolUK

Don't forget chemistry...all those poisons and things.

It may very well prevent the acceptance of that bigoted view. If not the teaching itself, the mere fact of the subject coming up and schoolmates talking about it.

Very clever.

Oink

Get him to this, it is rather well put.

Oakvillian

I really, really disagree with you about the news. My children (from 4 to 11 years old) listen to Metro Morning at breakfast time every day on the CBC radio. We used to listen to the Today on Radio 4 in the UK. They ask (even the four year old) some surprisingly incisive questions about world events. They have an interest in the political process. They understand that bad stuff happens in the world, but that it has to be particularly bad or particularly unusual for it to make it onto the news. Children have, I believe, an innate capacity to process this stuff without becoming damaged by it. War, murder, violence is a factor in modern life (has it ever not been a factor?) and the earlier children understand a bit about both international affairs and human nature, the better equipped they are to become well balanced adults with a healthily sceptical world view.

For elementary school kids, take a look at TeachingKidsNews. - it's a Canadian site that takes a usually very sensible approach to presenting sometimes difficult news material to a younger audience. They don't tend to cover so much of the war and death stuff, but what they do write about is pitched pretty well for a young audience.

Shard

You got me.

Oink

I wasn't trying to be funny. I think its a great read for an 11 year old.

Shard

That would be one smart 11 year old.

Tirytory

I don't protect them from issues that involve for example children starving/drought in Africa etc but I think the news in itself is not necessary. How does it benefit my child to know someone was beheaded by a religious zealot? You can't sensor the news quickly enough and I think at his age it is an unnecessarily scary take on the world. Also the news is essentially a media's presented view on the subject ie political slant etc and also I think you can get blasé or cynical when so much bad news is presented. That is something that doesn't need to happen.

Now by the same token, they are well versed in how morally corrupt Nestle are and why they can't have Cheerios, how chocolate must be fair trade to protect other children. I think there's enough critical thinking to see them through to their teens.

R I C H

Ah, so your version of the news is unbiased? Gotcha.

Tirytory

Perhaps you should read my posts where I said my children don't need to know. We all have different takes on parenting, everyone is different.... And mostly with involved parenting they get to the same stage.

I simply don't want my children growing up thinking that the world is this horrible place where people do horrible things to each other. There is time enough for that and the reality is that the world isn't like the one presented in the news. Tbh we don't have satellite tv so there's no instant access to tv for anyone of us anyway.

Shard

Exactly. Also, it depends on the child's emotional development.

Flogger

Gawd, did you never watch John Craven's news round?

Oink

I think Palmer makes the subject very accessible. And don't underestimate kids, in the past I've taught Plato to grade 6's and they took to it quite well.

Shard

As with the wontons, I haven't read the specific book, but I do have my doubts that many eleven year olds could grasp existentialism, and if so at a very superficial level. Their minds are too young and lack the requisite life experience.

R I C H

I read your post where you said they well versed in Nestle corruption, fair trade chocolate and the evil Cheerio. You've cherry-picked social issues and fed them to your kids without providing the opportunity to hear from different sources. You're as bad as Fox News