Why do parents tell their children that babies come from the stork? Why not tell them the truth, or at least a watered down version?
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redb_ball is away
ANSWERS: 14
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It's a way to avoid having to talk about sex, which some parents find awkward, embarassing or immodest. Children have also been told that they were found under a cabbage leaf, or that the doctor brought them in his little black bag - of course, this was back in the days when doctors still made house calls.
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Because parents are way too shy. They don't seem to understand that the kid won't be embarrased about it, so there is no reason to be either. However, if they leave it the kid will find out, then the parent will feel abliged to tell them anyway, and it is just embarrasing for all concerned
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Because, the same applies to santa claus, the easter rabbit and the tooth fairy. a child is a child and these fantasies are harmless. your children love it......ask them!!! I grew up with these fantasies and i turned out ok, just like 99% of the adult world.
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In the UK, most children are told they come from 'mummy's tummy', we don't really have the stork story here.
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I'm with john pennington here, its a way to "retain their childhood", but personally I don't think thats a wonderful idea. There are so many truly amazing things in this world already, how a baby grows in mommy's tummy being one, that why should we have to make things up? And they can continue to be awe-inspired as they grow up because they've been taught truth, not fiction. Pretend it ok though.
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My daughter is 8 now and we have always been honest (in a non graphic way of course), i.e. we had a special type of cuddle to show our love and that made you appear in mummys tummy. She has spotted loads of people around who are pregnant and at least now she can understand whats in there. As another UK person I find the only time I hear anybody mention the "stork" is in American films, its funny how different cultures handle it in such different ways.
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I think that parents should always be truthful to their children. I agree leave out the graphic stuff. We underestimate children's abilities to comprehend certain concepts. I remember when was sitting my 4 y/o neice, we ended up at a grocery store and a pregnant lady was behind us in line. My niece was like "Tio, why is she so fat?" I was shocked and embarassed. The nice lady told me not to worry. She leaned over (to the best of her ability) and smiled at my neice, and told her that she had a baby growing in her tummy. To which she answered "So why did you eat him?" Now I look back and see it as a cute story, but after I talked to my sister in law, she sat and explained to whole thing to my niece.
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My Dad told me they found me on the front porch one morning and waited to see if I would bark or cry. I finally cried so they let me in the house....LOL>..
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I'm going to tell my son that babies come from Armadillos (I'm from Texas). And that every time he sees one dead on the side of the road that he didn't get to make his delivery, and that's where bums come from. Two birds with one stone!
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i think that is a little morbid. you should be ashammed, hahhahahah
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Actually I was pretty much given alll the facts (and really not very watered down) in like year 3 (so...7) Until then it was a 'special cuddle' but I had a younger brother so i always kinda knew where babies came from. When my mums best friend was pregnant with her second child (her oldest is my age) The eldest asked if 'mummy's baby is is a car seat' - bless, kids are so cute.
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My parents never actually gave me "The Talk." They just kinda hoped I would learn it in school lol (bad parenting?) But when I was about 6 or 7, my parents told me that babies grow in mommy's tummies, and it starts growing when a mommy cell and a daddy cell meet. Of course, I had to be a smart*ss and ask "But...wouldn't the baby be digested and get stuck in the mommy's intestines?" hehehe
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I think nowadays more and more children are learning the truth at a younger age because of the media and children growing up too fast... For that matter I don't think I ever was told the whole stork thing.
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iT COULD BE A SCHOCK FOR CHILDREN TO HEAR FROM WHAT BABIES COME....
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