Parental Guidance: Explaining bin Laden

How should I help my child process the death of Osama bin Laden? How do I explain why he might see people celebrating the fact that someone has been killed?

If you are comfortable doing so, talk to your child about the thousands of innocent Americans killed on Sept. 11, 2001, because of actions ordered by Osama bin Laden, suggests Danielle Reinhardt, psychologist at Forest Park Elementary School in Dix Hills. Explain how families and friends of the victims suffered, too.

"Take the opportunity to have a discussion about American values, rights and freedoms," Reinhardt says, concepts opposed by bin Laden, who threatened to harm the United States further. "It is important to explain to children that it is the military's duty to defend our country and protect our freedoms," she says. Tell them the government keeps us safe every day through police, laws and security measures.

Let them know our country needed to take "extreme measures" in bin Laden's case to protect people against future attacks, she says.

"Of course, you want them to respect human life," Reinhardt says. So help them understand the feelings behind the cheering. Explain that the United States had been open to capturing bin Laden instead of killing him, but he wouldn't surrender. Explain that revelers are relieved about and grateful for the elimination of a potential danger. Reinhardt suggests saying something like, 'They're happy because they feel safer, and because we were defending ourselves against his attacks.' "