>>>>- No employing children;
>>>>Definitely agree on #2.
>>>
>>>For both you and Tamar, is that a blanket statement or do you make exceptions for family business (restaurants & farming come to mind)?
>>>
>>>Obviously I'm once again thinking of my personal experience but I dare say while my early work experience is rare I am not unique.
>>>
>>>Update : What age range do you consider "children"?
>>>
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24173194>>
>>I think absolute for children 10 and under. At 11 or so, some kids may be ready to babysit, shovel a neighbor's driveway, and similar tasks. Nothing with a regular "you must be here every day" kind of schedule, but ways to earn some pocket money.
>>
>>I'd say 14 minimum for regular employment (retail, etc.) and then with significant restrictions as to what and how many hours (including fewer permitted during the school year and more during vacation times). From there to 18, gradual lessening of restrictions.
>>
>>Family businesses, especially farms and ranches, raise an interesting set of problems, and I think some common sense is called for. Sending your 6-year-old ought to scatter feed for the chickens is probably not very different from the dime my dad used to give me for each pair of his shoes that I polished. But putting the same kid on a tractor to plow the field is a whole 'nother story.
>>
>>Tamar
>
>I forgot another example, child actors.
>
>I was watching Masterchef Junior (I know, I'm really partying it up on a wild Friday night) and I was struck by the talent on display from 8-13 year olds. In the context of this discussion I was thinking just how dangerous what these kids are doing can be. Hot stoves & ovens, boiling water and lots of knives.
>
>There was one clip in particular which I've tried to find online but to no avail. The best I found was this preview. At the 21 second mark there is a quick glimpse of one of the children (10yo IIRC) chopping herbs, very quickly with a large knife.
>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LslgEvp1X3w>
>These children obviously have parents who cook and have taught them from a VERY young age to know their way around a kitchen. Arguably the most dangerous place in the house.
>
>I understand the need to prevent child exploitation. At the same time I hate the idea of stifling children (or anyone for that matter) because of their birthday. People mature at different ages. I can think of a few adults I wouldn't trust in the kitchen. ;)
Absolutely, kids should help in the kitchen from a young age, being taught skills as they are ready for them. (That applies to other household tasks as well.) OTOH, just because a 10-year-old can make a batch of brownies while Mom's making dinner, that doesn't mean he should be able to work in a bakery.
As for kids on "reality" TV, I'm generally opposed, but then I'm generally opposed to reality TV for the most part. Kid actors is a much harder call. We've seen plenty of evidence that in the long run, working as a child actor seems to have negative impact on a person's life. There are some notable exceptions. (Ron Howard and Shirley Temple come to mind.) But overall, the story of child actors is mostly a pretty horrible one. The flip side, of course, is that lots of movies and TV couldn't be made without them. I know laws protecting child actors have been strengthened over the years; I don't know whether they're strong enough yet. (FWIW, I suspect a major difference between the kids ruined by acting and the ones not is the parents and their motivations.)
Tamar
