I now see why I struggled with showing my interests to my parents when I was a kid.
Iâm listening to my cousin going on about Fortnite. The kid adores the game and is talking about the battle pass and he how hopes to get it later on today.
My mum just flatly says she doesnât know what that means and has told him to hurry up as they go through the door, not giving my cousin any wiggle room to explain what it means. Fortnite is special to him, he wants to talk about it, he wants to engage but how can he when at that moment, the adult heâs talking to shuts him down?
Why canât some people just take a damn minute to listen, REALLY listen to what kids are saying? Heâll now sit in the car in complete silence because his aunt isnât interested in what he likes.
Iâm not saying everyone has to be a fountain of knowledge for things like that. Hell, you donât have to like what another personâs into but for the love of god, at least TRY and give it a go in understanding why itâs so important to that person.
âOooh, that sounds neat! Tell me about it?â Is one of the best things you can say to a kid. (Or an author.) It matters less that you understand it than it does that they are allowed- are *encouraged*- to explain it
And also, if youâre truly lost:
âIâm not sure what that is, can you explain it to me?â
Kids LOVE getting to tell an adult something the adult doesnât know. It makes them feel important because hey, weâre grownups! We know everything! Wait, we donât? Wow! Let me tell you!
also if youâre like me youâve had your family just up and say everything you like is stupid and thatâs like. the worst possible thing please just fuckin listen to kids
Listening is fine and good, but also engage. I remember a kid who attended the elementary school I worked at in the past, he wanted to grow up to play with Legos, and lots of adults would listen to him. But he was floored when I informed him that I remember reading about that in Lego Magazine when I was his age, and got really excited when I told him that his pathway was to study architecture.
