217
votes
What age limit is appropriate for using tools (such as screwdrivers, hacksaw, drill, etc.)?
Using tools is not based on age, but instead on maturity and training.
My 9-year-old has his own toolkit. There is a screwdriver, hammer, saw, and a couple other things that are his.
He needs to ask ...
- 22.6k
175
votes
Accepted
My child wants GTA V for his birthday
You say that you don't want him to play it -- that's your answer, you should not buy it for him. Parents set the rules.
Explaining why you aren't buying it can help him accept this decision more ...
- 22.6k
166
votes
How to respond to 17 year old daughter going out with a 25 year old man?
I was 19 and ran off with a 27 year old woman from America. (I'm British and she is American). My mother disowned me and we didn't speak for a year.
My relationship with my wife lasted 16 years and ...
- 1,371
91
votes
What's an appropriate age to involve kids in life changing decisions?
I have to challenge your entire premise, which may get this post deleted, but I hope you get a chance to read this before it is deleted.
In simple terms this is a case of, Majoring in the minors and ...
- 3,368
87
votes
Accepted
Is a Rubik's cube an appropriate gift for a 15-month-old child?
At 15 months old, a rubik's cube would not be appropriate.
First, it's kind of a complex puzzle. Most adults can't solve it. A 15 month old is going to see it as a brightly colored cube and nothing ...
- 13.3k
84
votes
Accepted
My son refuses to celebrate. What should parents do?
I don't know what culture you are coming from, but in the U.S., a birthday celebration is for the celebrant more than it is for the attendees. From that point of view, it would be pretty lousy to ...
- 1,992
76
votes
Why is trying to talk children out of how they feel a bad idea?
The definition you've likely found was the definition of talking something out. "to settle something by discussion: Let's not get mad. Let's just talk it out. Please, let's talk out this matter calmly....
- 955
76
votes
What age limit is appropriate for using tools (such as screwdrivers, hacksaw, drill, etc.)?
I would say that 15 is plenty old enough to use a screwdriver or drill or hacksaw. For reference, in my boy scout troop, nearly every boy earned a Whittling Chip (even if they had already earned in ...
- 1,095
69
votes
How to respond to 17 year old daughter going out with a 25 year old man?
I don't know what to do, do I let them get on with it or should I try to explain my above concerns at the risk of pushing them together?
Why not do both?
It's natural to be concerned. You might also ...
- 2,899
60
votes
My child wants GTA V for his birthday
In addition to the pretty good answers already provided, I'd like to point out that GTA 5 is not in any way suitable for a 10 year old.
There is one specific mission that gives a very good example why ...
- 700
53
votes
Is a Rubik's cube an appropriate gift for a 15-month-old child?
I would not recommend this as a toy, but for a different reason.
As a brightly colored geometric shape a Rubik's cube would probably be appealing to small children, and at that age they will likely ...
- 935
51
votes
What's an appropriate age to involve kids in life changing decisions?
Whatever you and your spouse decide to do, please please do not ask your kids to decide who their primary guardian will be or what their living arrangements will be. I found this approach terrible ...
- 1,575
48
votes
How to respond to 17 year old daughter going out with a 25 year old man?
Several answers already, but I want to address a couple of your concerns.
You are worried about your daughter missing opportunities (travelling, studies). I started dating my wife when she was ...
- 987
44
votes
My son refuses to celebrate. What should parents do?
Who are you celebrating for?
If you're celebrating for yourself, then ... go do that. Go to a nice restaurant and give yourself a nice dinner to congratulate yourself for raising a child to 13 (and ...
- 63.2k
40
votes
Accepted
Is this normal that my 5 years old kid keep thinking about the bad things
If you have OCD, then this might be the intrusive thoughts of OCD, as there is a genetic component to it. However, diagnosing kids this young is difficult, and it's not at all uncommon that kids with ...
- 71.8k
38
votes
My son refuses to celebrate. What should parents do?
This could have been me, 45 years ago - I never liked the birthday celebrations my parents held for me (though I'd never have dared to tell my parents so), and when I was invited to other kid's ...
- 541
37
votes
How can I begin exposing my children to world news?
My personal opinion is that there are no sites I would consider appropriately curated.
This is something you should watch with them, discuss with them, and if needed, change channel.
I don't know ...
- 26.6k
36
votes
Accepted
What's an appropriate age to involve kids in life changing decisions?
I will address only one issue:
At roughly what age levels is it appropriate for the kids to have what levels of say in their upbringing?
At every age, a child should have a voice about their ...
- 71.8k
34
votes
How to respond to 17 year old daughter going out with a 25 year old man?
The general rule of thumb for age appropriateness is half plus 7.
The obligatory XKCD cartoon:
25 and 17 is slightly over. However, generally speaking women mature earlier than men. Assuming your ...
- 383
31
votes
What's an appropriate age to involve kids in life changing decisions?
Children should be involved in, and have input on, life changing things - but while they get an opinion that should be considered they do not get a vote; that is why they are children not adults.
You ...
- 411
28
votes
Why is trying to talk children out of how they feel a bad idea?
The definition of "talking them out of it" you found is slightly off, just enough to lead to the confusion. In this case, the meaning is "convince the child that they are not angry/sad/happy at all!"
...
- 3,099
27
votes
Is a Rubik's cube an appropriate gift for a 15-month-old child?
There are huge soft 2x2 rubik's cubes for toddlers.
Like this one: Jumbo 12157 - Rubik's Baby - My first Cube, Kleinkindspielzeug
They are soft and not easily breakable.
There is a youtuber called "...
- 1,378
27
votes
Accepted
Why is trying to talk children out of how they feel a bad idea?
Adding to the other good answers and elaborating a bit on the "why" from the child's perspective:
Mirroring
The advice is based on the concept of Mirroring in psychology.
It means that a ...
- 402
27
votes
What age limit is appropriate for using tools (such as screwdrivers, hacksaw, drill, etc.)?
It's really up to you to decide. The important thing to keep in mind is your knowledge of your son's abilities. Is he good with his hands? Do you let him use knives? If you trust him to be capable and ...
- 1,193
26
votes
My child wants GTA V for his birthday
I guess it boils down to whether you think your son can cope with the content, i.e. can distinguish between the fiction and reality and process the displayed emotions and actions, or not. In my ...
- 397
26
votes
My son refuses to celebrate. What should parents do?
You stated that "we find ourselves in a difficult situation". Why is this difficult for you? Your son has made it abundantly clear to you. In your own words, "he resents the idea of ...
22
votes
My child wants GTA V for his birthday
Wrong expectations lead to disappointment. Let him know in advance that GTA is not what he's getting for his birthday and ask him what he wants instead.
You and others who raise the kid (partner, ...
- 2,899
21
votes
My son refuses to celebrate. What should parents do?
I am an introvert. One of the symptoms is that I dislike celebrations, my own as well as others'. Ask him if he would like to celebrate with his radio friends and what kind of celebration he would ...
- 311
17
votes
My 13-year-old daughter is talking to a 20-year old girl on the internet. Is this normal?
I have certainly spoken with 13 year olds on the internet and I am in my 60s. Some of the time was in a game room chat and some of the time in my role as a moderator on a forum. I am quite friendly ...
- 17.4k
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