My 6 year old grandson is terrified of ebola.

[MoonRiver]

When he came over I had the news on. Of course ebola was front and center. He almost became unglued, crying about how he doesn't want to die from ebola! I tried and tried to reassure him that it was not a threat and he was going to be just fine. But he said please just don't talk about it and I'll forget, but I know this is haunting him. So sad and just wrong that children are being frightened about this extremely remote threat.

[Wait Wut]

1. Aw...geez.

Poor kid. Assure him that talking about it will make him feel better.

Good luck.

[MoonRiver]

4. Thanks, we have SpongeBob on now. He's better.

I did try to explain how it was very hard to catch and nobody in our area has it, but to him ebola is the boogie man. Hopefully, he will get more reassurance from his parents. I plan to tell my daughter about this when she picks him up.

[longship]

13. SpongeBob is perfect.

Love it.

The world needs much more SpongeBob and much less Ebola coverage.

[FSogol]

2. Don't let six year olds watch Fox News.

Or read DU.

[MoonRiver]

6. I had CNN on.

[FSogol]

8. Then don't let them watch CNN. n/t

[MoonRiver]

9. Of course I won't have it on again.

Usually he just ignores it and asks for cartoons. I had no idea.

[FSogol]

11. Teach him some tools to keep himself safe from germs.

Wash your hands (while singing "Mary had a little lamb' so you wash them long enough)
wash them when coming home from school or the store, wash them before meals, etc.

Then go get some ice cream or go for a walk in the park.

[LawDeeDah]

3. That is so sad, I am sorry...

I don't know what I would do, but give it a day or so and show him the very small chances of getting ebola compared to other ways - but then he'll have more things to be frightened of so probably a bad idea.

I don't know! Coo and comfort him and keep the tv off? Take him somewhere exciting to take his mind off of it all and somehow reassure him he is safe?

[Stallion]

5. Where is He Getting this Fear From

its coming from someone.

[MoonRiver]

7. Everybody at his school and everywhere else is talking about ebola.

Kids do not live in cocoons.

[marions ghost]

10. This is what happens

when you hype up something like this. Children see it everywhere and then you're supposed to convince them that there's no problem?

It's too big a stretch for really young ones.

This is wrong.

[hunter]

12. Disconnect the television.

Our television is a movie watching machine. That's all it does.

No television "news," no advertising, nothing but cinematic art.

[MoonRiver]

19. He's over for a few hours twice a week.

I'm not going to "disconnect" the t.v. Just won't have anything on but cartoons when he comes over.

[liberal_at_heart]

14. I'm sorry. Just as those at school are big influence so are you. Just keep doing what you are doing,

let him watch cartoons or take him to the park. Hug on him and comfort him and let him know he will be okay. He will pick up on your cues and begin to develop a sense of safety.

[MoonRiver]

21. I wish I could take him to the park.

I'm in constant pain from my sciatica so walking is limited.

[Cali_Democrat]

15. The media gets 'em early

Frighten 'em while they're young and keep 'em frightened and scared of everything for the rest of their lives.

It's criminal.

[Nay]

16. The poor little guy. My grandson is 7 and I can see him being scared, too. But

if you turn the TV off and involve him in something fun, those feelings will go away.

That's also why I never have the TV on the news (or anything scary, really) when he comes over.

A good, fun day with Grandma will do him a world of good!

[Nye Bevan]

17. Kids that age should not be watching the news.

Murders, rapes, parents abusing their children, are all stuff that can traumatize kids that age.

[CTyankee]

18. when I was a little girl about 6 I was worried about a nuclear bomb being dropped...

my mother told me that I was to set aside an hour each day to do nothing but worry about the bomb. I tried that only briefly and then just got over that fear...

[Hekate]

22. You and his parents turn off the damn TV. Remember Mr. Rogers' PBS special....

....for parents, immediately after 9-11? Well, maybe not, since your grandkid wasn't yet born. I highly recommend adults looking it up and watching it. He gives some utterly sane and compassionate advice on how to protect children from news reporting that can terrify them.

Best wishes.

[Egnever]

23. Turn the damn TV off

Geezus don't people ever get enough of the fear mongering?

[MoonRiver]

24. I'm not turning the damn t.v. off. The news won't be on when he's over here.