Children should be seen and not heard?

I have always thought this to be a totally wrong idea. I think the concept was made up by people who just didn't want to be bothered with children or their questions. I raised my children with the 'no question is too stupid to ask' and 'if you don't ask, you won't know' approach. My kids asked lots of questions, and if I didn't know the answer I'd always say let's see what we can find out about it. As far as kids being quiet just to please their parents, it might be ok sometimes to ask for some quiet, or to not be bothered because you're doing something that needs concentration, but we always have to remember that kids are kids. And they're going to be noisy at times. They are not miniature adults, and they have many questions, and make noise when they play. To me it's music to my ears, and to some it's just an annoyance. I'm much older, and I grew up with some relatives that thought that phrase was true. Needless to say it was much harder being around those relatives than with my own parents who didn't mind if I talked too much, or made noise while playing. I think that making a child feel that he/she must be seen and not heard takes away from their natural curiosity kids all have, and makes them stifled somewhat. While it's good to have them be quiet sometimes, it's probably not good to make them be that way all the time. I believe kids brought up that way might have self esteem problems in the future, and not learn how to be themselves. Just my humble opinion from being brought up that way myself lol.

For me though, children should not only be seen but also be heard.^_^ That's because they might seem to say the most preposterous of things but when you really think about it, they're just speaking of what they know as the truth. More often than not, those truths that they are actually the most raw truth there is that you could ever find. At least that's just what I think. Perhaps, that adage has turned up because children are cute and very much adorable to look at. But they just say "the darnedest things" that drive adults/grown ups off the wall. Perhaps because they might be embarrassed, they'd rather not speak about it, or they just dont want to hear it. Again, that's just what I think.

Good Luck keeping them "not heard". I have a child, I ran a daycare, and I work with kids on a daily basis. I have yet for them to be seen and not heard unless of course they are up to no good! I would rather hear what they are doing and planning!

I do not know where it came from, but i do not believe it. we had 8 children so it was never quite around here when they were young. I always want my kind to be heard and not quiet because that kept the communications open between my husband and me and them.

Hi there, I feel this is indeed an old adage and thoroughly outdated. Now a lot of research is going on upon child psychology and they have found as the basic criteria that children be never neglected. They understand things related to everyday life as much as we grown ups. There is no doubt that they must be looked after but at the same time we must hear them and treat them accordingly or there could be a helluva problem dealing with them later as they would grow into their teen.