Maddow/Engel documentary and thoughts on 9/11 show OK for an 11 year old

[cyberswede]

I wasn't planning to watch anything re: 9/11, but the preview of Rachel's documentary that she showed during tonight's RMS was pretty inriguing.

It actually got me thinking - my son was almost 1 year old on 9/11/01, and now he's almost 11 - has anyone heard of anything that will be on the TV machine that would be an appropriate overview of 9/11 for a 5th grader? I think Rachel/Richard's documentary will be a little over his head, but I wouldn't mind watching an historical report of the event with my kiddo - so he can learn about it and we can discuss it.

I don't have network TV, so I haven't heard much about what might be available re: 9/11 in the coming weeks.

[RamboLiberal]

1. Nickelodeon Sept 1 Linda Ellerbee 9 pm

Nick news. What happened? The story of September 11, 2001. Saw in USA Today 8/26 in list of 9-11 specials. Also has online discussion guide.

Of course had to be on same time as Rachel.

[catabryna]

2. My kid's a bit different...

but, I think over and over again... why would I want to scare him? Our own government has been playing the fear card against us adults for years. Reality is one thing. Over-the-top fear is entirely different.

[XemaSab]

3. They're not pushing FEAR on the kids like they pushed the bomb on the boomers

The other day I was talking with my mom about the Challenger disaster. It exploded when I was in third grade, and for months I would collect articles about it and put them up in my room. My mom thought it was macabre as hell, but she figured I needed to work through it.

I think 11 is old enough to know about it and be responsible with the information.

I think it would be WEIRD to get to high school and learn about it in class and be line "WHAT? This happened when I was one and I never heard about it?"

[catabryna]

4. I agree...

but, my kid processes things differently than most other children. He reads and spells at a 7th grade level, but emotionally... he is not ready.

I'm speaking from my own perceptions of my kid, not what a normal 10 or 11 year old is capable of handling.

And, I can't dismiss the perceptions of the 80% of the people who thought it was alright to go into Iraq, way back when.