What would you answer to this question if it was asked to you by a 7 years old child?
2007-03-12 04:02:28 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Social Science ➔ Psychology
They're starting to wonder what their place is. What they're doing. Why they are here.
The best way to answer this question isn't with an answer, but with a question. You see, you cannot tell anyone why they exist, or what their purpose is. Not even a child. Sure, you might be able to come up with a good explanation to appease the childs concerns for a moment, but if it's not honest they will eventually figure it out, and if you just brush it off, it will leave them even more confused.
Confidently ask them, "Well, what do you want to do?"
They will have an answer for this, perhaps after a moment of thought. If they say they don't know, ask them, "Well, what do you like to do? What do you want to be when you grow up?"
Prod until you find a good answer. Once you do, your child has partially answered their own question. This does two things: 1) They will have faith in the answer because they, themselves, answered it, instead of being told it by someone else and not fully understanding. 2) You've prompted your child to self inquire themselves, which is an excellent habit to begin early (Even though most parents never do this).
From there, have a discussion about what they want, and why they want it, and what they can start doing now to achieve their goals. If you are religious, it is most wise to agree that whatever the child desires is why god put them on the earth, to accomplish whatever it might be. If you're not religious, well, obviously it's still wise to instill a sense of purpose into your childs mind.
Lets face it. As adults, most of us have no purpose or sense of being. We stumble through our days, wondering "what's next", or "Is THIS what will make me happy?"
As children, we are told we have a purpose, and that everything will work out. But, does it? Hardly. Rarely.
I'm of the opinion that it is most wise to get young children to think of the future aggressively, not passively. By this I mean instead of having them believe things "will" come, have them ponder and consider and even act toward how they will make things happen. This young lesson will carry over as they grow older, and could be the difference between a more successful life, or not.
I know you were only looking for a simple answer on how to explain this to a child, and I have given you a lesson. My apologies for that, but for a question that questions the very fabric of existance and that people ask all their lives long, to me it would seem that an answer that applies to an entire life is fitting, even for a young child :)
2007-03-12 05:22:54 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The world is a 'big and scary' place to a 7 year old child, and that child may be 'depressed' and thus the question was asked. You should answer this question VERY SERIOUSLY, but without being 'heavy' toward the child. Tell him/her "You are like a flower' ... you are just a 'bud' now, and I can't tell you why you are alive now ... but I can also tell you that when you 'bloom' you'll be 'beautiful' and will give something to make this world a better place to live in. Remember that all flowers can't be 'big and showy' like a movie star or sports star is, and most of the 'flowers' are small and insubstantial ... but even if you are only a 'baby's breath' flower, think how 'sad' the bouquet would be if it was ONLY the 'big stars' ... it's the 'baby's breath' that MAKES THE BOUQUET WORK ..."
I know that may seem 'counter-intuitive' ... but what you would be 'really doing' is telling the child that you may not 'know' why that child is 'here' ... but by putting it in the 'baby's breath' category with all of the other 'kids' in the world, and comparing it to the 'fancy flowers' in a bouquet, you are giving that child a 'good reason to be alive' and you may also tell the child that it is NOT a 'real flower' and may 'turn out to be a big, fancy flower' someday (a 'celebrity') but that all of the 'fancy flowers' must have a 'bouquet of baby's breath' around them and that whatever that child will grow up and 'do' is 'just fine with' you.
2007-03-12 11:41:52 · answer #2 · answered by Kris L 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would tell him that he is here to love & inspire others, and make some contributions to the world. This can be done in a great many ways- by teaching, healing, tracking and arresting rapists, starting a business and employing and leading others, becoming a pro surfer, or whatever. The point is to instill a sense of purpose, gratitude, and obligation toward the world that sustains us.
The poor kid seems to have realized- OK, I'm here, I've figured out how to walk, eat, and not Shite in my pantaloons, and is now asking- "OK, now what of the bigger things in life?”... how funny and endearing. I would just give the kid some hope and some goals, so that they don't become a nihilist at such a young age.
2007-03-12 11:26:52 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tell him/her that everyone has a meaning and a purpose but that we don't always know what it is. Tell the child that someday, he/she won't know when, they will find out when the time is right.
2007-03-12 11:13:34 · answer #4 · answered by Becky 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
tell him and mommy and daddy are a big bunch of cells, and you merged those cells to make another big bunch of cells and thats how he got here. tell him the world is a great place if you make the right choices and give him a hug.
2007-03-12 11:33:46 · answer #5 · answered by kiss_me_cold_007 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because your momma and daddy love you.
2007-03-12 11:20:38 · answer #6 · answered by Kathleen 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lie to him. Comfort the poor little kid.
2007-03-12 11:06:48 · answer #7 · answered by Carlos 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
God created you so that you glorify his name.
to love and serve
2007-03-12 11:11:42 · answer #8 · answered by perfect soul 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋