Trust Kids!

1. Trust children as full human beings with innate wisdom and capabilities

"Children don't need to be taught joy in being alive."

Innate wisdom. Children are born with an intrinsic drive to learn, explore, and engage with the world around them. Rather than viewing children as blank slates or incomplete humans, we should recognize their inherent capabilities and honor their unique perspectives. Trusting children means:

• Believing them when they express their needs, feelings, and experiences
• Allowing them to make decisions and learn from natural consequences
• Respecting their bodily autonomy and right to consent
• Valuing their ideas, opinions, and creative expressions
• Supporting their innate curiosity and love of learning

By trusting children as full human beings, we create the conditions for them to thrive and develop into confident, capable adults. This requires adults to examine their own biases and relinquish the need for control.

2. Challenge adultism and adult supremacy in all aspects of society

"The forcible subjugation of children by adults forms the psychological underpinning of every other model of political and economic subjugation."

Pervasive discrimination. Adultism, or discrimination against young people on the basis of age, is deeply ingrained in our societal structures and norms. It manifests as:

• Laws and policies that deny children basic rights and autonomy
• Educational systems that prioritize conformity over creativity
• Patronizing attitudes that dismiss children's perspectives
• Physical and emotional violence against children
• Economic exploitation of child labor

Challenging adult supremacy requires critically examining power dynamics in all realms of society - from families to institutions. We must work to dismantle hierarchies that subjugate children and recognize how this oppression intersects with and reinforces other systems of domination like white supremacy and patriarchy.

3. Rethink childhood as a different way of being, not an inferior stage

"Childhood is merely a different way of being, one that is not exclusive to youth."

Reframing perspectives. Rather than viewing childhood as a temporary and provisional stage of development, we should recognize it as a valid and valuable way of engaging with the world. Key points:

• Children are not incomplete or deficient humans
• Childhood capacities for curiosity, play, and wonder persist throughout life
• The immediacy and exploratory nature of childhood cognition is valuable
• Adulthood is not the apex of human development
• Both child-like and adult-like modes of being have merit

By shifting how we conceptualize childhood, we can move away from a hierarchical view that privileges adult ways of knowing and being. This allows for more reciprocal intergenerational relationships.

4. Embrace autonomy, consent, and self-directed learning for youth

"You may give them your love but not your thoughts, for they have their own thoughts."

Freedom to learn. Children are naturally driven to learn and grow. Rather than imposing adult-directed education, we should create environments that support self-directed learning:

• Allow children to choose what, how, and when they learn
• Provide resources and facilitation rather than top-down instruction
• Respect children's right to say no and set boundaries
• Create opportunities for real-world engagement and apprenticeship
• Trust that children will gain necessary skills through exploration

Self-directed learning fosters intrinsic motivation, creativity, and a lifelong love of learning. It also prepares children to be self-reliant, critical thinkers equipped for an uncertain future.

5. Cultivate intergenerational relationships and community beyond the nuclear family

"We are nothing if we walk alone; we are everything when we walk together in step with other dignified feet."

Expanding connections. The nuclear family model isolates children and places immense pressure on parents. Instead, we should foster diverse intergenerational relationships:

• Create "chosen family" networks of mutual support
• Involve elders in childcare and mentoring
• Encourage child participation in community life
• Build solidarity between youth and adults in social movements
• Share resources and caregiving responsibilities communally

Broader community connections provide children with diverse role models, expanded learning opportunities, and a stronger support system. This approach also reduces the burden on individual parents and caregivers.

6. Decolonize parenting practices and educational systems

"We need to decolonize our Black parenting. This means that we must understand how our parenting practices have been formed by systems of oppression."

Unlearning oppression. Many common parenting and educational practices are rooted in colonial, white supremacist ideologies that perpetuate trauma and oppression. Decolonizing involves:

• Examining the cultural and historical roots of disciplinary practices
• Rejecting physical punishment and coercive control
• Centering Indigenous and non-Western ways of relating to children
• Dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline
• Affirming children's cultural identities and languages

By recognizing how colonialism has shaped our understanding of childhood and education, we can work to create more holistic, culturally-affirming approaches to raising and teaching children.

7. Center children's voices in social movements and radical change

"We don't need to be empowered by adults; I need them to stop having power over me."

Youth leadership. Children and youth are at the forefront of many social and environmental justice movements. We must amplify their voices and follow their lead:

• Support youth-led organizations and initiatives
• Include children in decision-making processes
• Uplift youth activists like Greta Thunberg
• Recognize children's stake in shaping the future
• Create intergenerational spaces for collaboration

Young people often have the clarity, courage, and creativity to envision radical alternatives. By centering their perspectives, we can build more inclusive and transformative movements for change.

8. Recognize how child oppression underpins other systems of domination

"Childhood is, therefore, the originary site—ground zero—of all systems of domination, the position where all forms of oppression are produced and reproduced."

Root of oppression. The subjugation of children serves as a model for other forms of domination and exploitation. Understanding this connection reveals:

• How childhood trauma perpetuates cycles of violence
• The role of schools in reproducing social hierarchies
• Links between adultism and colonialism, racism, and patriarchy
• How child labor fuels capitalist exploitation
• The use of infantilization to justify oppression of marginalized groups

By addressing the foundational oppression of children, we can begin to dismantle interconnected systems of domination and create more equitable societies for all.

9. Create spaces for play, exploration, and youth-led initiatives

"Children are creators, producers, energy, treasures, necessary to health and survival."

Fostering creativity. Play is children's work and a vital mode of learning and development. We should create abundant opportunities for free play and youth-led projects:

• Design playful learning environments
• Allow for unstructured time and "risky" play
• Support youth-run spaces and organizations
• Encourage artistic expression and experimentation
• Provide materials for open-ended creation

By fostering creativity and autonomy, we empower children to develop problem-solving skills, resilience, and innovative thinking. This prepares them to tackle complex challenges and envision new possibilities.

10. Practice mutual aid and cooperation rather than competition with youth

"We are fungi on wild edges, we are the thorns that grew."

Collaborative spirit. Despite cultural messaging about competition, children naturally tend towards cooperation and mutual aid. We should nurture this inclination by:

• Modeling collaborative problem-solving
• Creating non-hierarchical learning spaces
• Encouraging peer-to-peer support and teaching
• Rejecting individualistic measures of success
• Fostering a sense of community responsibility

By prioritizing cooperation over competition, we can create more supportive and equitable environments for children to thrive. This approach also builds skills for creating collaborative, non-hierarchical social structures.

11. Reimagine adult-child relationships based on listening and respect

"Listening is not just to hear the other, but to be ready to be transformed by the other."

Mutual transformation. Truly respectful relationships with children require adults to listen deeply and remain open to change. This involves:

• Practicing active, empathetic listening
• Valuing children's knowledge and experiences
• Being willing to admit mistakes and learn from children
• Engaging in dialogue rather than top-down instruction
• Cultivating curiosity about children's perspectives

By approaching relationships with children as opportunities for mutual growth and learning, we can create more authentic connections and break down harmful power dynamics. This reciprocal approach benefits both children and adults, fostering intergenerational understanding and solidarity.

Last updated: May 1, 2025