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SALT LAKE CITY — The images of celebrations in America the night Osama Bin Laden was killed, and the fact it continues to be on the news, is probably confusing to children.
"Young children are asking why are we happy somebody died, and that's a very difficult question to answer," says Dr. Douglas Goldsmith, child psychologist and executive director of The Children's Center.
"Young children are asking why are we happy somebody died, and that's a very difficult question to answer." Dr. Douglas Goldsmith, child psychologist
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For children who were born after the terrible events of 9/11, parents may have to explain why the United States is relieved to know bin Laden is dead.
"Children will respond well to hearing that something bad has now been permanently removed — and that really should be the focus," Goldsmith says. "He was a bad guy; and now that he is dead, we don't have to worry about him anymore. He is not going to hurt anybody else."
Dr. Lisa Giles, a child psychiatrist at Primary Children's Medical Center, believes parents should talk to their children differently, depending on their age and development.
"If you think of a 6-year-old, they are going to have a short attention span. So, you can give them a really brief answer. They certainly don't need an in-depth answer," Giles says.
What she believes parents should not do is avoid answering questions from their children or completely changing the subject.
"Do we want to skirt around and totally avoid the whole issue? … that tends to create more anxiety in kids," Giles says. "And so when you are in that situation of something is going on and no one's talking about it, the kid is going to be imagining way worse than it is, and that heightens the anxiety and tension."
If you think of a 6-year-old, they are going to have a short attention span. So, you can give them a really brief answer. They certainly don't need an in-depth answer.
–Dr. Lisa Giles, child psychiatrist
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The possible release of the death photos is also a major concern among parents.
While officials weigh this decision, parents may have to consider this: The impact of seeing the images of bin Laden with gunshot wounds may leave a longer lasting impression on children than they realize.
"The majority of children are going to take one look say, ‘That's gross,' and then run off and play," Goldsmith says. "But then there is a group of more anxious children that tend to think more deeply... They just tend to get more upset by small things. This isn't small. They may be able to look at that photo and kind of study it and say, ‘I'm upset, and now I have these images in my head.'"
Goldsmith says that some children may have sleep issues or anxiety about death after viewing a graphic photo. He says each child will react differently, and there is no age limit when it comes to who will be impacted by it.
Goldsmith says there is no added benefit to children or adults to see the photo of bin Laden if it is released. But if it is and they do see it, he says the best thing to do is talk about it.
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Story written with contributions from Sam Penrod and Shara Park.
