4 ms·

Really depends on the kid's age. Younger kids (less than 10yrs) are not able to grasp the concept of money or earning money, so explaining that dad is out makin

Really depends on the kid's age. Younger kids (less than 10yrs) are not able to grasp the concept of money or earning money, so explaining that dad is out making money for a roof over their head and putting food on the table is not going to cut it. At that age, they just want close interaction with their dad.

MWil 13y ago
I'm happy to be proven wrong and of course this is only anecdotally but I was watching sci-fi movies at age 10 and I could grasp, at least on the surface, the underlying technology and it's purpose. When we say "kids dont understand money" I'm thinking they should start to get it at about 7 and certainly have a basic grasp by 10.
- cunac 13y ago
  most likely you didn't grasp but just accepted without questioning of feasibility
  - MWil 13y ago
    I didn't grow up with a lot of money so, again anecdotally, I'm pretty sure I had a great respect for what money could afford by that age. There's a difference between saying kids aren't capable and kid's aren't commonly knowledgeable or taught. I'll agree with the latter but I'd disagree with the former.
- larrys 13y ago
  Kids will fully understand what is brainwashed (used in a positive way) into them. If they are raised to believe that work is necessary and the spouse who is with them while the working spouse is away doesn't whine, complain or fight with them about it then they will learn that it is something necessary. And guess what? If they don't that's to bad. You do what you think is in the best interest of your children long term not short term because you won't be around. In no way are they going to understand why you can't be at the ball game or the school play but later if you are out of work and/or you can't pay for their college that they will understand and they won't say "oh that's ok at least you came and saw me make that basket".
- Jare 13y ago
  When I was 7 years old, I distinctly remember telling my dad "I give you all my money" (my parents never had money, and had a few pretty rough periods). At the time I did not make the rationalization that the money was coming from him anyway, but I sure knew giving it to him meant I would not be able to buy my candies and stuff. I also didn't really understand what his job meant, but I knew it was among the "stuff that needs to get done even if you don't like it and don't know why you have to", of which I had my own share (cleaning the room, etc). It was never a (big) problem when he or my mom weren't around for reasons we didn't understand; what mattered was that when they were with us they were WITH US. Reading, telling stories or listening to ours, going hiking or playing sports, teaching maths or showing how to beat an egg.
thrownaway2424 13y ago
Really? My 4-year-old gets anxious when I take the day off or even if it is a national holiday. She says I'm supposed to be at work so the family doesn't get hungry. Saturday and Sunday are family days she tells me. I'm not sure about children being born with the expectation of fatherly company. Historically it wasn't universal. Some native Americans had separate housing for men and for women and children. In other ancient societies men would leave en masse on hunting expeditions for whole seasons. Of course those civilizations were much more communal than ours and contained many more children.
- cunac 13y ago
  Having children of my own I find very disturbing that 4 year old gets worried about such thing. For sure she didn't come up with that by herself but most likely listening/being told by parents
  - bzbarsky 13y ago
    Or just by having fairy tales read to her, say. I don't mean Disney-fied ones, of course. If you read those, there's poor people, people starving to death, people out looking for firewood in the winter, etc, etc. And while some kids just accept it as-is others ask questions. Yes, at 4. It _really_ depends on the child.
- jamesbooker 13y ago
  sorry, but your story sounds like absolute bullshit to me.
brc 13y ago
Children can grasp anything if you explain it to them. A 4 or 5 year old can easily understand the concepts of work and money if you explain it to them.

MWil 13y ago

I'm happy to be proven wrong and of course this is only anecdotally but I was watching sci-fi movies at age 10 and I could grasp, at least on the surface, the underlying technology and it's purpose. When we say "kids dont understand money" I'm thinking they should start to get it at about 7 and certainly have a basic grasp by 10.

cunac 13y ago
most likely you didn't grasp but just accepted without questioning of feasibility
- MWil 13y ago
  I didn't grow up with a lot of money so, again anecdotally, I'm pretty sure I had a great respect for what money could afford by that age. There's a difference between saying kids aren't capable and kid's aren't commonly knowledgeable or taught. I'll agree with the latter but I'd disagree with the former.
larrys 13y ago
Kids will fully understand what is brainwashed (used in a positive way) into them. If they are raised to believe that work is necessary and the spouse who is with them while the working spouse is away doesn't whine, complain or fight with them about it then they will learn that it is something necessary. And guess what? If they don't that's to bad. You do what you think is in the best interest of your children long term not short term because you won't be around. In no way are they going to understand why you can't be at the ball game or the school play but later if you are out of work and/or you can't pay for their college that they will understand and they won't say "oh that's ok at least you came and saw me make that basket".
Jare 13y ago
When I was 7 years old, I distinctly remember telling my dad "I give you all my money" (my parents never had money, and had a few pretty rough periods). At the time I did not make the rationalization that the money was coming from him anyway, but I sure knew giving it to him meant I would not be able to buy my candies and stuff. I also didn't really understand what his job meant, but I knew it was among the "stuff that needs to get done even if you don't like it and don't know why you have to", of which I had my own share (cleaning the room, etc). It was never a (big) problem when he or my mom weren't around for reasons we didn't understand; what mattered was that when they were with us they were WITH US. Reading, telling stories or listening to ours, going hiking or playing sports, teaching maths or showing how to beat an egg.

thrownaway2424 13y ago

Really? My 4-year-old gets anxious when I take the day off or even if it is a national holiday. She says I'm supposed to be at work so the family doesn't get hungry. Saturday and Sunday are family days she tells me. I'm not sure about children being born with the expectation of fatherly company. Historically it wasn't universal. Some native Americans had separate housing for men and for women and children. In other ancient societies men would leave en masse on hunting expeditions for whole seasons. Of course those civilizations were much more communal than ours and contained many more children.

cunac 13y ago
Having children of my own I find very disturbing that 4 year old gets worried about such thing. For sure she didn't come up with that by herself but most likely listening/being told by parents
- bzbarsky 13y ago
  Or just by having fairy tales read to her, say. I don't mean Disney-fied ones, of course. If you read those, there's poor people, people starving to death, people out looking for firewood in the winter, etc, etc. And while some kids just accept it as-is others ask questions. Yes, at 4. It _really_ depends on the child.
jamesbooker 13y ago
sorry, but your story sounds like absolute bullshit to me.

brc 13y ago

Children can grasp anything if you explain it to them. A 4 or 5 year old can easily understand the concepts of work and money if you explain it to them.