From the mouth of babes...

[Lik3]

Are kids really wiser than us adults? I ask this because I was watching a video of a 12 year old girl who made some decent enough points about the wisdom of kids and how we as adults should pay them more attention. Interesting. I wonder why us adults don't give children enough "credit" since they often ask pertinent questions, tell better jokes, and give wise tidbits about life in general. My question is, am I being correct in my assessment about the wisdom of children or am I far reaching?

 

[MariaJLM]

I wouldn't necessarily say children are wiser, but they do tend to say thing as they are rather than sugarcoat them like so many adults do. Like, when we speak sincerely we're often assumed to be rude and stuff.

 

[Mark Quayle]

Are kids really wiser than us adults? I ask this because I was watching a video of a 12 year old girl who made some decent enough points about the wisdom of kids and how we as adults should pay them more attention. Interesting. I wonder why us adults don't give children enough "credit" since they often ask pertinent questions, tell better jokes, and give wise tidbits about life in general. My question is, am I being correct in my assessment about the wisdom of children or am I far reaching?

Not that you don't know this, but children are generally less patient and tactful with their statements. We often have put ourselves into the habit of quickly assuming kindness is in a soft response, to avoid brutal honesty. Both of these facts do not make children wiser.

As to our relationship and deference to children, yes, we should respect them as honestly seeking wisdom and knowledge. But there is something about children where if they are brought up right, they learn where they stand in relationship to others in life. They are not the decision makers, and complaining is counterproductive. And no, a 12 year old's sense of humor is not completely developed yet. They have a lot of life to go through before understanding some of the best subtle ironies.

 

[MehGuy]

I agree, kids can be a lot smarter than many adults give them credit for. My father never really talked down to me when I was a kid and I really appreciated it. I wouldn't say they're necessarily wiser than adults, but perhaps they have some wisdom people forget when they get caught up in the rat race of life.

 

[Tropical Wilds]

Kids are like adults in that they can be insightful, intentionally or otherwise, but that doesn’t mean they’re always right, honest, or wise. Like, my kids have said incredibly insightful things.

They’ve also left the car doors open all night after getting out of the car, and blamed a missing bag of chips on birds. So... Yeah.

 

[Nithavela]

There is no such thing as wisdom.

 

[FireDragon76]

I wouldn't necessarily say children are wiser, but they do tend to say thing as they are rather than sugarcoat them like so many adults do. Like, when we speak sincerely we're often assumed to be rude and stuff.

Very common for Asperger's, too. When I was younger, I was very blunt and easily hurt peoples feelings and it confused the heck out of me.

 

[MariaJLM]

Very common for Asperger's, too. When I was younger, I was very blunt and easily hurt peoples feelings and it confused the heck out of me.

Heck, even us regular people can be blunt. I've gotten myself into some difficult situations because of it.

 

[FireDragon76]

Heck, even us regular people can be blunt. I've gotten myself into some difficult situations because of it.

I am so thankful my partner rarely asks me "how does this make me look?"

 

[PreviouslySeeking...]

There is no monolith. Perceptive adults were likely perceptive children, and vice versa. Age doesn't really confer much except a fuller understanding of social expectations. While adults generally have more experience and information, not all adults can actually learn from their mistakes and gain knowledge. Most adults seen to be large children.

Children seem exceptionally insightful at times because we expect so little of them generally speaking.

 

[Tanj]

Are kids really wiser than us adults?

Nope.

My question is, am I being correct in my assessment about the wisdom of children

Nope.

or am I far reaching?

Yep.

I work in a pediatric hospital and am involved in a number of studies concerning child development. I also get to meet and see alot of kids.

 

[loveofourlord]

I think children have more thinking capacity then adults given them credit, the thing they lack is experience, wisdom and knowledge. Just have to watch kids try to figure out something like why the sky is blue or such, their ideas are pretty good thinking, but they lack the experience and knowledge to make it true.

 

[Ttalkkugjil]

Are kids really wiser than us adults? I ask this because I was watching a video of a 12 year old girl who made some decent enough points about the wisdom of kids and how we as adults should pay them more attention. Interesting. I wonder why us adults don't give children enough "credit" since they often ask pertinent questions, tell better jokes, and give wise tidbits about life in general. My question is, am I being correct in my assessment about the wisdom of children or am I far reaching?

You're far reaching. I say that as a teacher.