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Day 16: Lets Protect Our Kids

Writer's picture: Mark Di PaolaMark Di Paola

Updated: Sep 25, 2024

We’re seeing more conversations these days around asking very young children—sometimes as young as five—what pronouns they want to use. At first glance, it might seem like we’re empowering kids by allowing them to explore their identities, but I can’t help but wonder: are we asking too much, too soon?


Children at that age are still discovering the world, let alone themselves. They’re more focused on play and imagination than on understanding something as complex as gender identity. And as much as we want to be inclusive, we have to ask—are we protecting their innocence, or are we placing an undue burden on them?


The real issue here isn’t whether we should respect people’s identities—of course we should. But it’s about timing. Childhood should be a time of exploration, not pressure. Kids should be allowed to grow into themselves without being asked to make decisions they aren’t fully equipped to understand yet.


There’s plenty of time for them to figure out who they are as they grow older, but right now, what they need most is the freedom to simply be kids—without the weight of adult-level decisions hanging over them.


Let’s protect that space for them. Let’s support them by allowing them to grow at their own pace, not rush them into decisions that should be made with maturity and understanding.


—Mark

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