advice

[KLD1019]

I'd say as soon as they are able to communicate. I see no good reason to lie to children. The amount of truth you tell them depends on their age, though. If a little kid wants to know where babys come from, for instance, there's no need to give them the full, detailed, birds and the bees talk, saying a baby comes from mummys tummy is enough for the time being and a child will be satisfied with that answer till the're older.

:nod::nod::nod:

im surprised at how high in age some people said. for me, its started at birth with Jace :shrug:

a childs understanding of things are taken for granted. they are sponges and soak up alot more than what people give them credit for

 

[AUDRAA]

I dont think there is such a thing as to young to discuss that kind of thing, its how you present it at the age they are so they understand it. You can tell a 2 year old that something they do is hurtful and explain it to them a different way then you would a 15 year old and still get your point across IMO.

 

[Peter Parka]

not the birds and the bees. the general age that you can talk to them about being responsible for their actions, good or bad. how their inaction to do something could hurt someone else.

That is surely something you should be teaching kids from the get go. Well, wish more parents would, probably wouldn't have so many adults running round devoid of responsibility and thinking the world owes them a living if they were taught this as soon as they could think.

 

[purpledove]

depends upon the specifics of what you want to discuss. IMO

This.

My oldest understands more things than I think adults sometimes. He's only 7. It just really depends on how mature they are and what you are wanting to talk about.

:nod:I agree with both of them. Totally depends on what the topic/ discussion is all about and how mature the kid is. A friend family counsellor once said- that to gauge if a kid is ready for such sensitive discussion/matters is when he/she asks questions about a certain topic. She said- it's better that the kid hear the answers from the parents rather than from strangers or others who might have different upbringing/values etc from what the parents wanna teach their kid - juz sharing

 

[Abcinthia]

That is surely something you should be teaching kids from the get go. Well, wish more parents would, probably wouldn't have so many adults running round devoid of responsibility and thinking the world owes them a living if they were taught this as soon as they could think.

I agree you should be teaching kids from the start. That everything has got consequences and to think about how their behaviour affects others.

From the original post, I thought you were going to tell them something that could seriousally upset them or that a child might not be ready to know.

 

[Staci]

all my kids have learned from very very little about actions have consequences(sp) etc. i guess my OP was too vague as this pertains to a certain issue.

thank you all for the advice and its interesting to see the different view points of many memebers

 

[AUFred]

not the birds and the bees. the general age that you can talk to them about being responsible for their actions, good or bad. how their inaction to do something could hurt someone else.

That sounds like teaching about responsibilities. We started ours young on things which they were responsible for in their day to day lives.