Comments for Thingamababy

Comment on Teaching children to shut up by Mariana Perri

Mariana Perri — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 03:20:10 +0000

Loved the topic… I always try to keep “grown up” subjects away from my child… They tend to give their own interpretation to what they hear…

Comment on Teaching children to shut up by gertie

gertie — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 02:43:37 +0000

I have heard first graders say things such as “That’s family business, I don’t really talk about it.” “I’m supposed to tell you to ask your mom*.” and “My family does something different, but that’s okay.” All of these comments were made in regard to religious observances, but I think they could work and other situations.

Teaching kids when to shut up is not just a polite thing for parents to do, but it’s also an important social skill for the kids to learn. Great article!

*I’d add ‘or dad’, of course.

Comment on Teaching children to shut up by Mary

Mary — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:37:56 +0000

While I agree with you that there is a time and a place for keeping your mouth shut, children included, we cannot control what our children will say. We can only influence them and hope to instill the right and wrong things to say in situations like this. The parent of this child may or may not have told their child not to share why they aren’t getting vaccinated. Ultimately, the child decided to say something, regardless of any prior warnings not to (or lack thereof). In the matters of children, I agree that we need to teach them when is the right time to speak up and when it the right time to hold back. Often, we see comedy shows, or even witness in life, a child saying something that you would otherwise have them not. Such as when a child reveals something they heard Mommy or Daddy say about someone else to that person. Or how about some embarrassing fact about yourself? Or how about that slip of some profane word you wish you didn’t say around your son or daughter? In this instance, it is very probably that the parents didn’t explain to their child about keeping quiet. In which case, they should have to prevent other children from any undue stress or worry.

Comment on Teaching children to shut up by My Boaz's Ruth

My Boaz's Ruth — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:40:08 +0000

*THUMBS UP* June.

Not just vaccination, but many different subjects when parenting is involved.

Comment on Teaching children to shut up by june

june — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:28:50 +0000

I think generally in these situations the kids are talking just like their parents do. And it’s awfully hard to convince parents to teach their kids to be respectful when the parents themselves are not. I’ve had parents say all of the above–and much worse–to me when they found out that I do vaccinate.

Comment on Teaching children to shut up by Allison

Allison — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:00:16 +0000

I wish that all parents were as thoughtful about these things as you and the others commenting on this post are. I wish that all parents did teach their children to respect other peoples beliefs and choices but sadly I don’t think that is the case. Which is why it is important to also teach our children how to respond to people who are over stepping the bounds and not respecting the beliefs and choices of others.

I have heard enough of crazy accusations surrounding the H1N1 vaccinations that I have maybe become a little too cynical but I am inclined to think the parents of that particular child may have felt their child should not shut up but continue to “speak the truth”.

Comment on Teaching children to shut up by KGS

KGS — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:40:49 +0000

I wonder how the anti-vaccine child’s parents felt about that situation. It’s sometimes hard to predict when and how our words will come spilling out of our kids’ mouths in the most awkward ways, although I hope I would have seen that one coming.

We had some tense moments in line for seasonal flu shots last month when an 8 year old in front of us started having hysterics. “Why is she crying?” asked my 3 year old (who’s never had a problem with shots but had clearly begun to be scared). The “big kid” wailed that she was afraid of shots, and the eyes of other young kids in line started to grow huge… I asked the older child if she was afraid of sharks (my daughter is) and she said no. We spent the rest of the wait discussing how some people were afraid of sharks and not shots and vice versa and averted group hysteria, thank goodness. There’s nothing quite like kids’ group immunizations!

Comment on Dolphin-attended water births by AJ

AJ — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:47:38 +0000

Given the transference of bodily fluids into the water, I wonder if this enriching experience for the dolphins carries any risk of illness for them.

Comment on Teaching children to shut up by Isi

Isi — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:38:38 +0000

We teach our 4 that everyone has choices and that people can make the choices in their life as the go along. Sometimes there are right choices and sometimes wrong, and sometimes the choices are different for each person. That has worked pretty well for us and it has made our kids more inquisitive than expected – in the case you describe above i would expect a comment from my oldest asking the other child why they chose not to get the shot, and once the answered he would validate such a choice with us if he didn’t understand it.

We even use this technique to help manage attitudes, fighting, punishment, rewards, etc… Why did you choose to do or not do xxxx – what were your other choices … and sometimes the choice resulted in a reward or good job, other times it resulted in punishment or extra chores – they have learned that all choices come with consequences – sometime positive and sometimes negative.

Comment on Dolphin-attended water births by Paul

Paul — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:36:40 +0000

I’m sure this is a very enriching experience for the dolphins. Why should we deprive them?