Hot answers tagged age-appropriate
42
Because children in that age range are learning language skills rapidly, and primarily by listening to what adults say.
If they hear a new word, they will almost certainly try to use that word, even if they do not understand what the word means (which is frequently the case). It is how they learn.
Obviously you aren't offended by profanity, but ...
27
Common Sense Media is an incredible resource for this purpose. It provides parent-focused overviews and specific details about scenes that contain both desirable and undesirable activity.
Movies are rated for age appropriateness and in each of the following categories:
Desirable
Educational value
Messages
Role Models
Undesirable
Violence / scariness
...
22
According to the AAP not until two.
In fact, the American Academy of
Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that
children under two years of age avoid
watching TV entirely. Experts say that
babies and young toddlers see
television as a confusing array of
colors, images and noises. Children
under age two won’t understand much of
the content they see ...
22
Yes, I think that children's online activities should be monitored but I don't think it's feasible in practice except for very young children. Older kids will always find a way to circumvent your control -- but the good news is that they get more computer-literate in the process :-)
To me it's the same as having someone supervise small children at the ...
18
We've always taught our children that Santa is a game that people play, not something real -- it's important for us not to lie to our children. They still enjoy playing the game.
We also find that this helps when interacting with other children who very much believe in Santa -- encouraging our children not to spoil the game.
17
From my own and others' experience, I'd say around 6-9 years of age is the time when they figure it out. Most will probably have a sneaking suspicion for a year or two, which they spend probing and observing. Isn't it odd that Dad always misses Santa because he's chatting with the neighbors just then, every year?
When he does figure it out, try to praise ...
17
There has been some research done on effects of caffeine in children.
The bottom line is that caffeine is generally safe, but it does have significant effects in children as well as adults. Note that children are much more likely to encounter caffeine in a soft drink than in tea or coffee; that's what you have to worry about, I think, not Starbucks. A cup ...
16
I doubt you'll find anything approaching a firm and accurate answer. This depends so much on the surroundings, particular child, etc.
For a general guideline, Mayo Clinic suggests that a child is likely to
Say a few words by 12 months
Say 8 to 10 words by 18 months
Use simple phrases and know 50 words by 24 months
They also offer some advice for aiding ...
14
The appropriate age depends a great deal on the specific style/art in question, the type of dojo, and the particular child. Most Karate dojos I know take kids starting around age 4-6. Most Krav Maga dojos I know won't take anyone under 14-16; some won't take minors at all. My friend's Brazilian Jui-Jitsu dojo only takes kids from age 10, but I'm told that ...
13
Don't expect anything. Having 5 kids, I'm well on my way towards having my own statistical sample. :-)
15 yo boy - started saying words at 1 year, could speak well before 2.
5 yo boy - pretty much only grunted and pointed at things until over 2 yo then started talking in near perfect sentences. He is now an eloquent speaker in 2 languages.
3.5 yo boy - ...
13
I always tell my kids that I will do my best to take care of them, including using my money to that purpose. They don't need to worry about that.
We started giving an allowance to my oldest at age 7, and we increase it every year on his birthday. This money is really for him to learn with, not because he needs to buy things.
At first, he didn't know how ...
13
I think it comes down to good 'ole fashioned parental gut feeling. You know your kid. Watch the movie in question beforehand and then judge whether you think it's appropriate for whatever stage your kid is currently in.
Some kids are obviously more sensitive to certain things so you just have to be cognizant of what might be scary for him/her.
I'd also ...
13
Here is another option: use a 'run bike' to help your child learn balance. This makes it easier to know when they are ready.
A run bike (aka 'balance bike') is essentially a bicycle with no pedals. There is a good New York Times article about balance bikes. Unlike a tricycle, a balance bike teaches balance, which is really the limiting factor for children ...
13
Aside from your comfort with the location and requirement to ensure to their personal safety, as soon as they don't need help toileting and washing their hands. This could be as early as 3 or 4, or as late as 6 or 7, or later depending on the location. As children approach puberty, mixed bathrooms become less appropriate.
I avoid this awkwardness by using ...
13
I remember saying hello to one of my daughter's friends when she was five-ish. The friend's response was "f***ing a***hole." She repeated this many times and thought it a great joke.
I tend to curse like a sailor but did not find this funny or cute. With children, language spreads like a virus so we stopped encouraging our daughter from playing with the ...
13
Every family will need to decide the age for wearing make-up for themselves.
It seems that marketers target, younger and younger children with beauty/make-up toys and products including glamour make-up dolls, "play" make-up and glamor photo shoots for very young children, and glamor magazines for preteens.
Perhaps rather than set a precise age, parents ...
12
Why do you assume that TV is a given? My wife & I don't own one (well, except for the retro TV I use as a monitor for my Atari 2600). When we were growing up, neither of us had a TV in the home until we were older than 10.
My suggestion would be to junk your TV, & see how you get along without it. Bored? Learn to play an instrument, read a book, ...
12
It's counter-productive to put a standard age on this - it's hugely dependent on your child and to a certain extent your home environment.
My son slept through from 4 months or so, a good friends child still doesn't sleep reliably at 6 years old.
However, reducing the number of naps during the day would probably help. It he's not tired, he's not going to ...
12
Just be honest.
Since you're requesting an answer that supports your personal value system, and only you really know all the details of what that value system is, the best advice I can give you is simply to tell your son what you believe.
Tell your son that "he" is really a "she" in a matter-of-fact tone, and don't say any more. Your son will almost ...
11
We are starting by using poker chips with our 4 year old. We reward him for doing well at preschool or finishing some homework. To watch TV, he has to pay 1 chip/half hour. He can also cash them on on a toy at the rate of $2/chip. 5 white chips get traded in for a red chip so this helps with learning addition.
He is learning about currency, how it ...
11
Is it considered harmful in the longer run to frighten the child so that he behaves the way we want?
I don't know about the "frightening the child" aspect - personally I think frightening / shocking a child who tries to do something dangerous, like run into the road (eg by shouting loudly) is quite effective.
But I think the thing that all your examples have in common is that the parent is appealing to an external authority (God, ghost, policeman) to be ...
10
I use Hallowe'en as a way to encourage artistic expression in my children. As they grow older, I continue to encourage them to dress-up and I model this by accompanying them in costume. However, as they grow older, the focus changes from them being the ones asking for candy to them creating more elaborate costumes and being chaperones for the little ones who ...
10
At 10mo the cognitive development of a child's brain is not capable of comprehending or responding to discipline effectively. It's all about managing the environment. That's not to say you can't try to communicate and begin to form the cognitive capabilities. But a frowny face will be just as, if not more, affective as voice tone. (Mirror neurons are the ...
9
I think you should teach your child when to say they are uncomfortable with something.
This is an important thing for them to learn. It means that they can decide for themselves in borderline cases when you have already decided they can watch, but they are not enjoying it.
I have the same experience with my son who likes watching animated movies, but will ...
8
I agree you want to be careful on how much tragedy you expose a 5 year old to, especially considering that the amount of coverage tragedies get on televised news programs far outweighs their frequency of occurrence in reality. You don't want your child to think that every hour there are murders, rapes, and other horrors happening in his neighborhood, nor do ...
8
In the UK there is a programme on the BBC called Newsround, it has been going for decades, which is news specifically aimed and edited for children.
While it can be a little too focused on human interest stories and cuddly animals, it does also try to offer a simplified version of the news.
This would be a great sort of introduction - not just the ...
8
My rule of thumb with both my children has been "if he/she can do it him/herself, he/she should". That includes going to the toilet, washing hands, etc. My four-year-old boy goes to the toilet by himself, whether it be in restaurants, shopping malls, etc. or at home. My seven-year-old obviously goes by herself as well, and has since she was about four (when ...
8
I'm not sure kids TV is any more violence than it was 20/30 years ago. Bugs bunny is as insulting as Spongebob. The pink panther is as 'violent' as Adventure Time. The difference is that you're now an adult and just see things differently. And 40/50 years ago it was plenty of 'cowboys and indians' as well.
That said, given that your example of what is ...
8
As an elementary school librarian, I was responsible for talking with students and parents about computer use. We focused a great deal about the very scary presence of predators on the internet. We encouraged parents to constantly talk with their children about what they are doing on the internet, who they are talking to, what sites they are visiting.
I ...
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