I think 12 year olds are incredibly capable and curious. I also know that the only thing preventing them from being exploited in the labour market like adults a

I think 12 year olds are incredibly capable and curious. I also know that the only thing preventing them from being exploited in the labour market like adults are the scant legal protects that exist to prevent them from being treated as adult employees. Please read the original article to see why - since it provides and example of an industry where these protections don't exist.