Say This, Not That.... Teachable Moments

Over Memorial Day weekend, a 4 year old boy climbed over a barrier and fell into a gorilla exhibit.  Unless you have been off-grid, you have probably at least heard some of the details, and you have probably developed some (strong) opinions about the situation.

No matter what "side" you may favor, the bottom line is that this was a tragedy on many levels.  Yet, as horrific as this event may be, it certainly presents with the opportunity to discuss myriad topics with our children.

I think that sometimes it is easiest to broach difficult topics with our kids when situations, such as this one, present as "teachable moments."

In no way am I suggesting that this situation is pleasant to address.  However, I feel that depending on the age of a child, there are opportunities to express family values, as well as explore individual values.
Things like:

Boundaries... safety through following rules and directions.
Respect... for nature and for life.
Appreciation... for blessings and opportunities.
Empathy... for people facing difficult decisions.
Forgiveness... toward self and others.

The values that a family holds dear are often implied without being verbalized.  As children get older, and their worlds become more "complex," discussion (and, gasp- debate!) of values is an important part of helping kids connect with their own internal value system.

The incident at the Cincinnati Zoo sparked some passionate conversations with my teenage daughters.  It was amazing to hear their thoughts, feelings, and ideas about not only the incident, but also the public's reaction, particularly on social media.  (I openly admit- I am one of those people who simply loves to see how the adolescent brain processes things!)

So, we used a tragic situation as an opportunity to re-visit and re-affirm our values.  We decided to Say This, Not That...