When is the Right Time to...

[masquerading]

start being honest with your kids?

About the way you perceive the good/bad/world/life/everything?

This has really been a difficult thing to decide for me and so since (as nutty and chaotic as it may seem) I value the opinion of this board that I have encountered, I want to hear what your thoughts on this may be.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

Depends on the kid. I wouldn't try to tell them the Whole Truth earlier than age 7 though. They kinda need that mental/emotional protection. You can dole it out slowly between ages 7 and 12-ish, and they will actually figure out most of it on their own.

[Sir Squid Diddimus]

I dunno, I just kinda told my kid how it is from the beginning
He seems to be ok

[Fredfredly ⊂(◉‿◉)つ]

TELL THEM NOTHING LET THE INTERNET TEACH THEM 

[masquerading]

Depends on the kid. I wouldn't try to tell them the Whole Truth earlier than age 7 though. They kinda need that mental/emotional protection. You can dole it out slowly between ages 7 and 12-ish, and they will actually figure out most of it on their own.

And that makes sense. It does. But there are times when I want to scream and yell out how I see and feel things (even minute things, like what a shitty assignment you have, here is what I would do) and then the parent in me says-hey they are only kids...then I think, Am I just being overprotective?

[AFK]

Honesty has to be in line with their emotional development.  If it involves some pretty high level concepts, you either need to find a way to bring it down to their level, or think about holding off until they are ready.  You don't want to overload a young brain with that they can't comprehend. 

[Cain]

Never.

Just leave lots of books on history, critical thinking, science, philosophy etc lying around the house.  Act as if you slightly disapprove of them trying to read them, or that it is something they're not yet ready for.  That way they'll figure it out for themselves.

[masquerading]

Thanks guys.

Some very good Advise here that I will use.

Thanks again!

[Whatever]

I dunno, I just kinda told my kid how it is from the beginning
He seems to be ok

This!

I think if my kid is old enough to ask the question, then they are old enough to get the truth.

[Jasper]

Never.

Just leave lots of books on history, critical thinking, science, philosophy etc lying around the house.  Act as if you slightly disapprove of them trying to read them, or that it is something they're not yet ready for.  That way they'll figure it out for themselves.

HA

This.  That would have worked on me.  I was a contrary little fucker.

[Jenne]

I'm not good at hiding who I am.  If I tried that, I'd spontaneously combust somewhere along the line.  I don't want my kids to get the idea that lying's a good way to go, anyhow.  I think most kids learn by example first and foremost, no matter wtf you tell them.  They usually either go 180' in the opposite direction or go along with what you inadvertanly taught them in spite of themselves/automatically.

Like others said already--if they are old enough to be curious, best way to deal with it is to give an age-appropriate and understandable, but TRUTHFUL, answer.  Chances are they can see right through you if you choose to lie or hide, or once they do find out later on and were snowed originally, they won't ever trust what you say again.

[the last yatto]

TELL THEM NOTHING LET THE INTERNET TEACH THEM 

reminds me of my childhood, dad gave me a 386 and just said "figure it out"

[Cain]

Never.

Just leave lots of books on history, critical thinking, science, philosophy etc lying around the house.  Act as if you slightly disapprove of them trying to read them, or that it is something they're not yet ready for.  That way they'll figure it out for themselves.

HA

This.  That would have worked on me.  I was a contrary little fucker.

It is pretty much what my Dad did, only we didn't have so much in the way of books, just an entire Encyclopedia Britannica set.