I was 5-years-old. They let us watch it on TV at school.
We were very freaked out by it. One of my very clear early memories.
I was 5 too! I was home sick from school and I remember watching something about it on TV. When I realized it had exploded, I wrote an "I'm sorry" card, using some spaceship inkstamps that I had. NASA actually sent me a letter thanking me for the card, and I have a framed copy of the letter in my room at my parents' house. I can't believe most of my life has taken place since then.