[baq]

We don’t treat children like they’re stupid, we treat children like they’re children. A stupid adult is treated very differently than any child.

Adults are expected to have their world models approximately correct in terms of physical environment so they won’t accidentally kill themselves by falling off a cliff; then there are the social norms which adults are expected to conform to so everyone is kinda predictable to everyone else so adults don’t kill each other too often over food or mates. Understanding of neither is expected from children.

[Izkata]

Another example, my parents taught me to read at about 4 years old. When I started kindergarten (the year before 1st grade in the US), the teachers and principal didn't believe I could read and I had to prove it by reading a book to them I'd never seen before.

I think they're right that kids (at least in the US) are generally treated as less capable than they are, and it ends up slightly delaying their development.

[ai_slop_hater]

You may have been raised properly since you don’t get what I mean. I really envy kids with “Chinese parents” that had them learn math early on and not some bullshit like that if you put your tooth under your pillow, then a tooth fairy will come.

[mejutoco]

I think those 2 are orthogonal. Math still works with Santa or the tooth fairy.

[ai_slop_hater]

Maybe math works but critical thinking doesn’t. There are people who have lived for many decades without ever questioning insane b.s. they were taught as kids.

[skydhash]

I had to learn maths early (not chinese or asian) and also a bunch of scary stories to make me behave. I would have been glad to learn about fairies.

[beezlewax]

It is possible to have learned both things you know.