We consistently underestimate kids. • Hacker News Board

Re: We consistently underestimate kids.

#41

Post by sray » Mon, Aug 20, 2012, 9:03 PM UTC

I was the youngest in a tiny family, and never had much exposure to children younger than myself. As such, I grew up not liking kids very much - I thought they were obnoxious, loud, selfish little creatures.

Then, about 10 years ago, I met my now-wife and got pulled into her gigantic family, complete with dozens of nieces and nephews. Not really knowing how to interact with young children, I just talked to them like adults - not dumbing down what I said, making jokes and references that there was no possibility they would understand - I found it kind of amusing to talk to a child like that.

But, the funny thing is, they really responded to being treated that way. And, it was fascinating to see how they reacted to my comments and questions. A lot of times I would say something I thought was totally over their heads, yet they would inevitably furrow their brows, and come up with some kind of response - often showing an amazing level of comprehension. It was really interesting to see how a child's thought process works, and how it changes as they grow.

As a perverse revenge against someone who didn't like kids, they all grew fond of me. I guess they liked being treated as people instead of dumb little kids.

Epilogue: I actually grew to like children... or the mostly-well-behaved ones, anyway.

Re: We consistently underestimate kids.

#42

Post by firefoxman1 » Mon, Aug 20, 2012, 9:58 PM UTC

firefoxman1 wrote: post #27

In 3rd grade I built a transistor radio for the science fair. I remember being so proud that I built it (and received 2 stations!), but my mom seemed to be way more proud of that meaningless blue ribbon. That's the problem, I think. It seems too many parents encourage artificial achievement that can be quantified, like grades or ribbons, which keeps kids from truly exploring what they are capable of doing.

Wow, I'm really sorry about these multiple posts. Blame my HP Touchpad's browser...

Anyone have the power to delete these?

Re: We consistently underestimate kids.

#43

Post by sliverstorm » Mon, Aug 20, 2012, 10:05 PM UTC

komiga wrote: post #25

noonespecial wrote: post #4

I'm having a similar experience with my 8yo and his arduino. The coolest thing is to watch him google and struggle (and persevere) despite not being able to read all that well. Its also bizarre to be with someone who can read and understand the word "instantiate" but is mystified by "pizza".

Rightfully so; Italian is cryptic!

Yeah, I suppose at a certain point the words that don't follow the rules are the most confusing. "Instantiate" follows the basic rules, "pizza" does not.

Re: We consistently underestimate kids.

#44

Post by makomk » Mon, Aug 20, 2012, 10:17 PM UTC

firefoxman1 wrote: post #42

firefoxman1 wrote: post #27

In 3rd grade I built a transistor radio for the science fair. I remember being so proud that I built it (and received 2 stations!), but my mom seemed to be way more proud of that meaningless blue ribbon. That's the problem, I think. It seems too many parents encourage artificial achievement that can be quantified, like grades or ribbons, which keeps kids from truly exploring what they are capable of doing.

Wow, I'm really sorry about these multiple posts. Blame my HP Touchpad's browser... Anyone have the power to delete these?

Looks like the duplicates have been autokilled, so only you and people with showdead enabled can see them anyway. Don't worry about it.

Re: We consistently underestimate kids.

#45

Post by minikomi » Mon, Aug 20, 2012, 10:53 PM UTC

squonk wrote: post #16

anu_gupta wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I still get a small thrill from stepping onto a particularly long escalator (eg the one at Angel tube station in London, which is the 3rd biggest in Western Europe), but then again, my partner often says I'm essentially a five year old trapped in an adult's body.

There is an awesome one at Tokyo Station (Chuo line?) Up about two stories, then horizontal for 10 meters, then up another two stories. Ya, I could spend hours on that one....

You piqued my interest :)

Longest in Tokyo is Shinochanomizu station:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuQTlvWEmbM

Please stand on the left hand side.

Re: We consistently underestimate kids.

#46

Post by gallamine » Mon, Aug 20, 2012, 11:19 PM UTC

I take inspiration from Admiral David Farragut, who was captain of his own naval vessel by the age of 12 during the (US) War of 1812.

"Farragut was 12 years old when, during the War of 1812, he was given the assignment to bring a ship captured by the USS Essex, safely to port.[5] He was wounded and captured while serving on the Essex during the engagement at Valparaiso Bay, Chile against the British on March 28, 1814." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Farragut

Re: We consistently underestimate kids.

#47

Post by colomon » Mon, Aug 20, 2012, 11:39 PM UTC

bluedanieru wrote: post #10

colomon wrote: post #2

While I fully agree that we underestimate kids, I've got to say that my three-year-old spent a gleeful half hour riding up and down escalators back in March, and was sad when we said he had to stop. Little kids can be surprisingly smart and still be amused by simple, repetitive things that would bore adults out of their skulls.

Pretty much all I've ever wanted to do is walk down an up escalator (and vice versa) at just the right pace that I don't move. Then run a bit faster, slow down a bit, etc. All my earthly ambitions boil down to this.

Now that you mention it, escalators don't thrill me anymore, but walking quickly with those long moving sidewalks at the airport is still stupid fun at 41.

Re: We consistently underestimate kids.

#48

Post by colomon » Mon, Aug 20, 2012, 11:40 PM UTC

parfe wrote: post #3

colomon wrote: post #2

While I fully agree that we underestimate kids, I've got to say that my three-year-old spent a gleeful half hour riding up and down escalators back in March, and was sad when we said he had to stop. Little kids can be surprisingly smart and still be amused by simple, repetitive things that would bore adults out of their skulls.

Farmville, slot machines, Modern Warfare 3, and Halo 7 would all like to raise objections. Adults find amusement in similarly mindless tasks. Adults don't find escalators amusing only because a lifetime of experience has made them common. A trip to Atlantic City or Vegas on the other hand somehow turns losing money into entertainment.

But those are repetitive things specifically designed to hook adults. Very young kids are endlessly amused by simple things like escalators and empty cardboard boxes.

Re: We consistently underestimate kids.

#49

Post by ef4 » Tue, Aug 21, 2012, 1:24 AM UTC

colomon wrote: post #2

While I fully agree that we underestimate kids, I've got to say that my three-year-old spent a gleeful half hour riding up and down escalators back in March, and was sad when we said he had to stop. Little kids can be surprisingly smart and still be amused by simple, repetitive things that would bore adults out of their skulls.

A three year old, yes, definitely. But the original article was talking about a nine year old.

But I completely agree with you. I think it's awesome how small children can focus so intently on simple things that bore adults. It actually jives well with everything we've learned as we try to make machines more human-like. It turns out that lots of the simple boring stuff is actually really hard, and watching kids progressively conquer it all is amazing.

Re: We consistently underestimate kids.

#50

Post by jakeonthemove » Tue, Aug 21, 2012, 2:17 AM UTC

I remember how adults used to dumb things down for me or simply ignore me on matters they thought "a kid wouldn't understand", that's why I have a simple policy when talking with children/teenagers: treat them as if they're at the same level as me intelligence-wise.

Sadly, so far in my experience, most children are pretty dumb, for lack of a better word :-). That's why people underestimate them by default, never giving a chance to those who are indeed just as smart as many adults...