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Comment on Most people's earliest memories are at around 3 or 4 years of age, which correlates with the age kids start asking "why" for everything. Kids start asking why when they become self-aware.

ImplyingImplications@lemmy.ca ⁨6⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

Kids start asking why when they become self-aware.

I wouldn’t say it’s when they’re self aware. Kids can recognize themselves in a mirror at around 1 year old. They start asking why when they realize other people know things they do not, a concept usually called “theory of mind”.

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Quokka@quokk.au ⁨6⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
I work with babies under 1, even they can point to pictures to “ask” me to name them. Knowing others know stuff is basic.

Theory of Mind isnt something we use in my field, but from a quick glance it’s knowing other people have minds, that they have their own desires, feelings, thoughts, etc not that they know information.

In ECEC terms we would think of that as the end of their egocentric stage. Usually seen around 1-3.

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Whats_your_reasoning@lemmy.world ⁨5⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
Some kids ask “why” because they understand the question and want to know more, but that isn’t the only reason.

Asking “why” tends to result in people talking to you. Ever hear a kid ask “why” over and over again without caring about the answer? They may have been asking the question because it provides them with attention. It’s a single word that nearly guarantees an adult will talk to you, and sometimes that’s all a kid really wants.

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